MLS Cup Final Preview: Messi’s Inter Miami Faces Müller and Vancouver Whitecaps
On November 30, 2025, Thomas Müller is well aware of the challenges that come with playing against Lionel Messi when championships are on the line. The upcoming MLS Cup final will see Messi’s Inter Miami go head-to-head with Müller’s Vancouver Whitecaps.
This match will not resemble the previous high-stakes encounters between Argentina and Germany in the 2014 World Cup final or the 2010 quarterfinals, where Müller’s Germany emerged victorious on both occasions. Müller and coach Javier Mascherano, who is part of the Inter Miami setup, will reunite for another intense match on Saturday in Fort Lauderdale.
“It’s not just about Messi versus Thomas Müller,” he stated following Vancouver’s 3-1 triumph over San Diego in the Western Conference final. “It’s Miami versus the Whitecaps.” Müller also remarked that while Messi may be more relied upon in his squad, his team shares strength across its roster.
Inter Miami’s strategy and Messi’s thoughts on the upcoming final remain mostly speculative, as media access to the star forward is limited. Messi has faced Müller ten times, with his teams winning only three of those encounters.
Since Messi joined Inter Miami in mid-2023, his ambition has been to claim the MLS Cup—an objective that seemed distant when he first arrived at a struggling club. A victory on Saturday would not only fulfill that ambition but also crown a season where Messi claimed the MLS Golden Boot as the league’s top scorer, and likely a second consecutive MVP award.
“Even though he’s the greatest of all time, it’s unreasonable to expect him to win every match,” Mascherano noted after Inter Miami’s commanding 5-1 win over New York City FC in the Eastern Conference final. “Everyone has elevated their performance.”
The MLS Cup final occurs during a pivotal week for soccer in North America, coinciding with the FIFA World Cup draw for next year’s tournament in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The announcement of the MVP winner by MLS is also expected this week, alongside the commencement of college soccer championships.
Neither Messi nor Müller requires Saturday’s win for validation; both have decorated careers, being World Cup winners, Champions League titles holders, and Club World Cup champions. However, Müller, who joined Vancouver just four months ago, is equally eager to secure a league title in MLS.
“I enjoy watching him,” Müller expressed in a post-match interview on Apple TV, reflecting on the opportunity ahead. “Miami is a formidable team. Their performance against New York was impressive. This is a significant final, and I wished for this matchup. We’re ready to compete.”
n
