Maya Yoshida of Los Angeles Galaxy lifts the MLS Cup trophy
Maya Yoshida of Los Angeles Galaxy lifts the MLS Cup trophy

Major League Soccer has been around for nearly three decades, and success in a parity-driven league is hard to sustain. Yet a few clubs have built real legacies.

At the top of that list stands LA Galaxy, while Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami represents the league’s newest power story. Here is a clear, detailed, and updated breakdown.

LA Galaxy: The Most Successful MLS Cup Team

The club with the most MLS Cup championships is LA Galaxy, with five titles, more than any other team in league history.

Club background

  • Founded: 1996 (one of MLS’s original teams)

  • Owner: Anschutz Entertainment Group, led by billionaire Philip Anschutz

  • Home stadium: Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California

From the league’s first season, LA Galaxy were designed to be a flagship franchise. Strong ownership, financial stability, and a willingness to sign global stars helped them stay competitive while other clubs rose and fell.

Read more: Which Club Has Won the Most MLS Cups? A Complete History of MLS Champions

MLS Cup titles

LA Galaxy won MLS Cup in:

  • 1996

  • 2002

  • 2005

  • 2011

  • 2012

Their 2011–2012 back-to-back titles, led by David Beckham, Landon Donovan, and Robbie Keane, remain one of the most iconic eras in MLS history.

Other major trophies

Beyond MLS Cup, LA Galaxy have also won:

  • MLS Supporters’ Shield (4): 1998, 2002, 2010, 2011

  • U.S. Open Cup (2): 2001, 2005

  • CONCACAF Champions’ Cup (1): 2000

That international title made LA Galaxy the first MLS club to win a modern CONCACAF championship, underlining their early dominance.

Other Teams With Multiple MLS Cup Titles

While LA Galaxy lead the all-time list, several clubs have built impressive championship résumés.

D.C. United – 4 titles

MLS Cups: 1996, 1997, 1999, 2004
D.C. United dominated the league’s early years and were LA’s biggest rival in the late 1990s.

Columbus Crew – 3 titles

MLS Cups: 2008, 2020, 2023
A model of smart roster building and consistency, especially in recent seasons.

San Jose Earthquakes – 2 titles

MLS Cups: 2001, 2003

Houston Dynamo – 2 titles

MLS Cups: 2006, 2007

Sporting Kansas City – 2 titles

MLS Cups: 2000 (as Kansas City Wizards), 2013

Seattle Sounders FC – 2 titles

MLS Cups: 2016, 2019

Messi’s Inter Miami: Trophies So Far

Since Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami CF in 2023, the club has transformed quickly.

Titles won with Messi

  • Leagues Cup (2023): Inter Miami’s first-ever major trophy

  • Supporters’ Shield (2024): Best regular-season record in MLS, achieved with a league-record points total

Still missing

  • MLS Cup: The ultimate playoff prize remains the one major honor Messi has not yet won in MLS.

Read more: Full List of Inter Miami Trophies, and MLS Cup

The Big Picture

LA Galaxy remain the gold standard of MLS success, built through longevity, trophies, and influence. Other clubs have had strong cycles, but none have matched their five MLS Cups. Inter Miami’s rise shows how fast modern MLS can change, yet history still belongs to the teams that win in the playoffs.

That contrast is what keeps MLS compelling: legacy versus momentum, tradition versus the new era led by the world’s biggest star.