Messi, Müller to Face Off in Blockbuster MLS Cup Final/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The 2025 MLS Cup final will feature a headline-grabbing showdown between global stars Lionel Messi and Thomas Müller as Inter Miami faces Vancouver. Both players are chasing their first MLS title, adding a new chapter to their storied rivalry. With history, legacy, and silverware on the line, all eyes turn to Fort Lauderdale this Saturday.
Messi vs Müller: MLS Cup Final Quick Looks
- Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami will face Thomas Müller’s Vancouver Whitecaps in the 2025 MLS Cup Final.
- The matchup recalls past World Cup showdowns between Argentina and Germany.
- Müller holds a 7-3 advantage over Messi in career meetings.
- Both are World Cup and Champions League winners, seeking first MLS title.
- Messi won the Golden Boot and is likely to earn back-to-back MLS MVP awards.
- Inter Miami dominated NYCFC 5-1 in the Eastern Conference final.
- Vancouver beat San Diego 3-1 to reach the title match.
- Messi joined Miami in 2023; Müller joined Vancouver four months ago.
- MLS Cup final adds to a packed week in North American soccer.
- FIFA World Cup 2026 draw takes place Friday in Washington, D.C.
Deep Look
Messi and Müller to Face Off in Star-Studded MLS Cup Final
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The stage is set for a blockbuster MLS Cup Final that pits two of the greatest footballers of the modern era against each other: Lionel Messi of Inter Miami and Thomas Müller of the Vancouver Whitecaps. Their face-off, scheduled for Saturday in South Florida, is a marquee moment not only for Major League Soccer but for global fans of the sport.
This final carries echoes of international history. Müller and Messi were key figures in two massive FIFA World Cup battles between Germany and Argentina — the 2010 quarterfinal and the 2014 final. Germany, led by Müller, emerged victorious both times. And now, more than a decade later, the rivalry renews — this time in the heart of MLS.
“It’s not Messi against Thomas Müller,” Müller said after leading Vancouver to a 3-1 win over San Diego in the Western Conference final. “It’s Miami against the Whitecaps. But maybe they rely a bit more on him than we do on me, because we’re such a good group.”
A Battle of Legends
Both Müller and Messi have nothing to prove, yet everything to gain. They are World Cup champions, Champions League winners, and Club World Cup titlists. But an MLS Cup title is a new frontier — a crowning achievement neither has yet secured.
Messi, who joined Inter Miami in mid-2023 when the club was languishing at the bottom of the table, has since transformed its trajectory. Now, just two seasons later, he’s led the team to its first MLS Cup final. He finished the 2025 season as MLS Golden Boot winner and is the favorite to collect a second straight league MVP award.
Inter Miami advanced with a commanding 5-1 win over New York City FC in the Eastern Conference final. Messi didn’t speak to media after the match — as is customary — but coach Javier Mascherano, a former Argentina teammate, praised the team’s growth.
“Even though he’s the best in history, it’s unfair to expect him to win every game,” Mascherano said. “But everybody has raised their level.”
Müller’s MLS Mission
Müller, who arrived in Vancouver just four months ago, has quickly become a catalyst for the Whitecaps. Known for his high football IQ and relentless work rate, he’s added leadership and world-class experience to a team already on the rise.
“I enjoy watching [Messi],” Müller said in an Apple TV interview. “Miami’s a very strong team, and this is the final I hoped for. It’s great for the league and for the fans.”
A Massive Week for Soccer in North America
The MLS Cup final headlines a pivotal week for North American soccer, coming just a day after the FIFA World Cup 2026 draw in Washington, D.C. The tournament, set to be co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, will dominate global headlines — especially if FIFA also names President Donald Trump as the first recipient of its Peace Prize, as rumors suggest.
MLS is also expected to announce its 2025 MVP award this week, with Messi the frontrunner once again.
Meanwhile, college soccer moves into championship rounds with the NCAA Division I men’s quarterfinals and women’s College Cup kicking off over the weekend.
History, Legacy, and a Final to Remember
While the MLS Cup final doesn’t define the careers of Messi or Müller, it adds new depth to their already legendary stories. Both entered MLS not to prove themselves, but to leave a lasting mark on the league and inspire a new generation of players and fans.
For Messi, this final represents the realization of a vision he embraced when he signed with a struggling Inter Miami club. For Müller, it’s a chance to lead a well-balanced Vancouver squad to its first championship since joining MLS in 2011.
“It’s a big final,” Müller said. “I think it’s great for everyone.”
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