Lionel Messi is set to bring his MLS journey full circle on Saturday as Inter Miami pursue their first-ever domestic championship in a high-profile showdown against the in-form Vancouver Whitecaps.
Nearly two years after transforming the face of Major League Soccer with his arrival in South Florida, the 38-year-old Argentine star now stands within reach of delivering the title Miami have chased since entering the league in 2020.
Miami’s surge to the MLS Cup final marks a remarkable turnaround. Early-season struggles left Javier Mascherano’s squad looking sluggish and short of direction, with only two wins in their opening eight matches and a bruising 5-1 aggregate loss to Vancouver in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
But since then, Miami have rediscovered their rhythm, scoring 17 goals across five playoff matches. The addition of Argentina midfielder Rodrigo De Paul strengthened the team’s midfield, while Mascherano’s tactical shift—benching veteran striker Luis Suárez in favour of 19-year-old Mateo Silvetti—infused much-needed energy into the attack.
Standing between Miami and the title is a revitalised Vancouver side led by German icon Thomas Müller, whose arrival in August added experience and sharpness to the Whitecaps’ forward line. Saturday’s final at Chase Stadium will feature four World Cup winners—Messi, Müller, Sergio Busquets and De Paul—setting the stage for a star-studded encounter.
Müller, however, has dismissed suggestions of a personal duel with Messi. “It’s not about Messi against Thomas Müller,” he said after Vancouver’s 3-1 victory over San Diego in the Western Conference final. “It’s Miami against the Whitecaps.”
Whitecaps coach Jesper Sorensen has also cautioned against reading too much into their April dominance over Miami, noting that both teams have evolved significantly since then.
Messi, speaking in a rare interview with ESPN Argentina, said he believes home advantage could prove decisive. “We’re in a very good moment, the team is solid and excited,” he said. “Playing at home is a plus.”
The final adds another chapter to the long-running competitive history between Messi and Müller. The German forward holds an impressive record against Messi, winning seven of their ten previous encounters—including the 2014 World Cup final and Bayern Munich’s emphatic 8-2 win over Barcelona in 2020. Despite that history, Müller insists it has no bearing on Saturday’s clash.
“It’s already in the books,” he said. “But it doesn’t really matter for Saturday—it’s a new game.”
