Florida Panthers steal the show from Lionel Messi with Stanley Cup twist at Club World Cup
Photo by Carmen Mandato/ Getty Images
Monday night at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami delivered a surprise that even
Lionel Messi
couldn't overshadow. While fans came to witness Inter Miami's showdown with Palmeiras in the FIFA Club World Cup, they also got a glimpse of a different kind of champion.
The Florida Panthers, fresh off their 2025 Stanley Cup win, brought hockey's most iconic trophy onto the soccer pitch.
It was another wild chapter in the Panthers' ongoing celebration tour — one that's taken the Cup from beach bars to pool parties, and now, to the global soccer stage.
NHL champions
bring the Stanley Cup to Lionel Messi's Inter Miami match at Hard Rock Stadium
The crossover moment happened on June 24, when five Panthers players —
Aleksander Barkov
, Dmitry Kulikov, Evan Rodrigues, Anton Lundell, and
Niko Mikkola
— arrived at Hard Rock Stadium with the Stanley Cup in tow.
Panthers team president Matt Caldwell joined them as the group took part in the group stage match between Inter Miami and Palmeiras.
At halftime, the players stepped onto the field to cheers from the crowd, parading the Cup proudly before thousands of fans. They also had the chance to meet with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Arsène Wenger — FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development — and 1998 World Cup winner Youri Djorkaeff.
Following the match, Barkov swapped jerseys with Inter Miami defender Noah Allen — a moment that captured the spirit of the night: a blend of champions from different worlds, meeting at the intersection of passion and celebration.
It wasn't just a cameo. Whether it was coincidence or karma, Inter Miami, widely seen as underdogs entering the game, pulled off a thrilling 2-2 draw against Palmeiras — a result that secured their place in the Club World Cup Round of 16.
Stanley Cup celebration rolls on as Florida Panthers take NHL trophy from championship parade to Lionel Messi's Club World Cup match in Miami
The Hard Rock Stadium appearance was just the latest stop on the Stanley Cup's whirlwind tour through South Florida. Over the past week, it's been seen at Fort Lauderdale's iconic Elbo Room, splashing around at Matthew Tkachuk's poolside bash, lighting up the night at E11EVEN, and of course, front and center at Sunday's championship parade.
Despite the non-stop festivities, the Cup shows no signs of slowing down. With each new appearance, it continues to capture the energy of a team — and a city — riding the high of a back-to-back NHL title.
What's next for the world's most famous trophy? If the past week is any clue, it'll be somewhere loud, unexpected, and unforgettable.
Also Read:
Matthew Tkachuk played through a torn adductor and hernia to win the Stanley Cup—now faces surgery decision
For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the
India vs England Test match here
.
Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
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