A possible conflict of interest by Lionel Messi over an image of Inter Miami’s latest trophy celebration has been quashed.

Messi scored two goals for the club in a 3–2 win against Columbus Crew, sealing their first ever Supporters’ Shield title.

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The award is given to the MLS team that has the best record in the regular season, with Inter Miami topping the Eastern Conference.

They have won 20 of their 32 games and have 68 points to ensure their celebrations were far from quiet.

Images on Messi’s Instagram account show him and his Inter Miami teammates standing around the shield in the locker room.

Another photo shows him holding it up next to director Jorge Mas, with a bottle of his Mas+ sports drink in one hand.

This may have raised questions among attentive viewers, as one of MLS’s corporate sponsors is rival beverage brand BODYARMOR.

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However, from the party photos, it looks like Messi was more than welcome with his own brand, which is manufactured by White Claw Hard Seltzer and launched in June.

As reported by SPORTbible, one of their sources claimed that there is no conflict of interest regarding the bottle of Mas+.

It is said that even though BODYARMOR is an MLS partner, clubs and players are allowed to have their own “respective category sponsors.”

Messi’s last photo on his Instagram post was of him holding the shield alongside his former Barcelona teammates Jordi Alba, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets.

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The ex-Camp Nou quartet have been an excellent addition to Inter Miami’s squad and could contribute to the club’s first-ever MLS title.

Messi scored 17 goals and assisted a further ten in the league in 2024, with Suarez their top scorer on 18.

Inter Miami has already secured first place in the MLS Eastern Conference with two games to play.

After facing Toronto FC and New England Revolution, they will advance to the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs.

The win sees them advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals and then the finals ahead of the 2024 MLS Cup.

Should Inter Miami make it that far, a Western Conference side will arrive as their opponents, with the club perhaps one of the favorites to go all the way.