Messi and Müller: a historic duel in the MLS Cup

The 2025 MLS Cup final is set to make history: Lionel Messi with Inter Miami and Thomas Müller with Vancouver Whitecaps face off in an unprecedented matchup. For the first time in 30 years, a World Cup winner could lift the Major League Soccer trophy, a league that has hosted stars like Pirlo, Kaká, Giroud and many others.

Global attention is massive: record-breaking ticket prices, international coverage, and MLS’s most ambitious production ever promise a spectacle worthy of legends.

Messi: leadership and magic in pursuit of a first title

At 38, Messi has led Inter Miami to their first MLS Cup final, scoring 29 goals and 19 assists in the regular season, plus 6 goals and 7 assists in the postseason. The Argentine remains competitive, confident, and motivated, ensuring his team is peaking at the right moment and ready for glory at home in Chase Stadium.

Müller: experience and calm guiding Vancouver

Meanwhile, Thomas Müller, 36, has been instrumental in guiding Vancouver Whitecaps to their first final. Arriving in August, he contributed 7 goals and 3 assists in just 7 regular-season matches, proving his skill and game intelligence remain intact.

The German keeps his cool and avoids dramatizing the rivalry: “It’s not about Messi against Müller... it's about Miami against Whitecaps,” he emphasized, highlighting his goal to lift the trophy with his team, independent of his past record against Messi.

Historic rivalry and expectations for an unforgettable spectacle

The history between Messi and Müller adds extra excitement: from the 2010 World Cup semifinal, the 2014 final, to multiple Champions League clashes, Müller has had the upper hand in previous face-offs. This historical narrative heightens expectations and elevates MLS to a new level of international attention.

Inter Miami and Vancouver, both playing in their first MLS Cup final, promise a tactical and spectacular showdown. With two World Cup champions on the field, Saturday will not only crown a champion but also write a historic chapter in MLS and U.S. soccer.