Haiti’s national team star Fafà Picault wins MLS Cup with Inter Miami 

MIAMI—-  Haiti men’s national soccer team winger Fabrice “Fafà” Picault won his first Major League Soccer (MLS) championship Saturday night, lifting the MLS Cup with Inter Miami CF after a 3–1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps FC—his former club—at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. The win marks the club’s first league title in its six-year history and caps Picault’s debut season with one of the most star-studded soccer teams in North America.

Picault, 34, was on the bench for the final and did not appear. Still, the winger’s presence throughout the 2025 campaign helped anchor Miami’s attacking depth in a season defined by historic milestones, including Argentine megastar Lionel Messi’s goal contribution record and Inter Miami’s first appearance — and triumph — in an MLS Cup final.

The Herons took control and scored early to secure their historic first title.

Inter Miami CF struck in the eighth minute, when a cross from Tadeo Allende deflected off a Vancouver defender and into the net. Goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo kept Miami ahead with multiple first-half saves, including a close-range stop on Emmanuel Sabbi in the 38th minute.

Vancouver equalized through Ali Ahmed in the 60th, but Miami responded quickly. In the 71st minute, Messi pressed high, won the ball and slipped a perfectly weighted pass to his fellow Argentine national teammate Rodrigo De Paul, who finished low to restore the lead. It was De Paul’s first goal in MLS play and Messi’s eighth assist of the postseason.

Allende sealed the result in stoppage time, finishing a move started by Jordi Alba and Messi. The goal set a new MLS postseason record with Allende reaching nine playoff goals. The assist increased Messi’s postseason tally to nine, 28 overall for the season.

The final whistle secured Inter Miami’s first MLS Cup and most sought-after trophy, added to its Leagues Cup (2023) and Supporters’ Shield (2024) titles. The victory also marked the final professional match for former Spain and FC Barcelona stars Alba and Sergio Busquets, who had previously announced z as  their retirement plans.

A dream season for Picault — and a career-defining moment

The title crowns a significant year for Picault, who signed with Inter Miami in January as a free agent after a standout 2024 season with the Vancouver Whitecaps. The New York-born winger, who grew up partly in South Florida, returned home to join a roster led by Messi, Luis Suárez, Alba and Busquets — a move he described as “a dream come true.”

“Representing this badge and playing for the incredible fan base this organization has built is a dream come true,” Picault said upon signing. “Returning to South Florida, a place I proudly call home, gives me the chance to make history with this team.”

Nicknamed “the Gazelle” for his pace and agility, Picault has long been a respected MLS veteran. Across nine seasons, he has amassed more than 61 goals and 30 assists with Philadelphia, Dallas, Houston, Nashville, Vancouver and Miami. He also enjoyed stints in Europe with Sparta Prague and FC St. Pauli.

Picault made headlines earlier this year when he scored a late game-winner against Atlanta United on March 16 — his first MLS goal for Miami — returning from injury to head home an 89th-minute cross from Alba.

A source of pride for Haiti and its diaspora

Picault, who switched his national team allegiance from the United States to Haiti in 2023, has earned 14 caps for the Grenadiers, appearing in the Concacaf Gold Cup, Nations League and World Cup qualifiers. His success in Miami has made him one of the most visible Haitian footballers in North America, bringing pride to fans across the Haitian diaspora.

He dedicated several of this season’s performances to his family and to Haitian supporters worldwide, who closely follow Les Grenadiers and the careers of Haitian players abroad.

The 2025 MLS Cup victory closes a historic chapter for Inter Miami CF as the club prepares to move next season to its brand new stadium, Miami Freedom Park. For Picault, the win adds a long-awaited championship to a career marked by consistency, determination and deep ties to South Florida and Haiti.

The Herons will now shift focus to a packed 2026 competitive slate — including MLS play, the Leagues Cup, U.S. Open Cup and international tournaments — with Picault expected to remain a key member of the squad.

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