Lionel Messi is now just one game away from completing a stunning two-year turnaround at Inter Miami, as the club prepares for a historic MLS Cup final showdown on Saturday against a red-hot Vancouver Whitecaps side.
When Messi arrived in Florida in 2023, the move instantly transformed the stature of Inter Miami and reshaped the global perception of Major League Soccer. Two seasons later, the 38-year-old stands on the brink of delivering the club’s first major domestic championship—an achievement Miami’s ownership envisioned when they launched the expansion team in 2020 but one that once felt years away.
Miami enter the title clash playing their sharpest football of the campaign. A sluggish opening to the season cast doubt on their playoff hopes, yet Messi’s influence sparked a dramatic resurgence. The team has surged through the postseason with flair and confidence, scoring an astonishing 17 goals across five matches and displaying a level of cohesion that seemed distant just months ago.
Their final obstacle is a Vancouver team overflowing with momentum. Since the arrival of German World Cup winner Thomas Müller in August, the Whitecaps have evolved into one of the league’s most balanced and dangerous units. Müller’s creativity and leadership injected new life into an already potent attack, helping the Canadian side peak at precisely the right moment.
Saturday’s final at Chase Stadium offers a marquee matchup rarely seen in MLS: four World Cup champions on the same field. Müller joins Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Argentina’s Rodrigo De Paul in a star-studded encounter that has boosted global interest. Despite the hype surrounding the individual battle between Müller and Messi, the German forward has tried to downplay the narrative.
“It’s not Messi against Thomas Müller,” he said after Vancouver’s 3–1 win over San Diego in the Western Conference final. “It’s Miami against the Whitecaps.”
Miami’s presence in the final is remarkable given their early-season struggles. In April, Javier Mascherano’s squad appeared drained and directionless, securing just two victories in their first eight league fixtures. Their form collapsed further when Vancouver crushed them 5–1 on aggregate in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, prompting intense criticism of the team’s structure and recruitment.
But everything shifted as the season progressed. The mid-year addition of Rodrigo De Paul injected energy and aggression into the midfield, while Mascherano’s bold decision to replace veteran striker Luis Suárez with 19-year-old Mateo Silvetti gave the attack fresh legs and unpredictability. The tactical changes revitalized the squad, allowing them to play quicker, more dynamic football.
Vancouver head coach Jesper Sorensen believes their previous victories over Miami hold no weight ahead of the final.
“Those matches almost feel like they were from another season,” Sorensen said on Thursday. “Both teams have evolved, and Saturday will be decided by how each side imposes its own style.”
Messi, who has maintained a notably quiet public presence during his MLS tenure, emphasized the importance of home-field advantage in an interview with ESPN Argentina.
“We’re in a very good moment right now; the team feels strong and motivated,” he said. “Playing at home always gives us something extra. Even during the periods when we struggled for consistency, we were able to rely on our fans.”
Across from him will stand a familiar opponent. Müller is one of the few players in world football boasting a winning record against Messi—seven victories in ten meetings. Their history includes the 2014 World Cup final in Rio de Janeiro and Bayern Munich’s stunning 8–2 demolition of Barcelona in the 2020 Champions League quarter-finals.
Reflecting on their past clashes, Müller remained lighthearted.
“I look back on those matches fondly—the experiences were incredible,” he said. “But none of that matters on Saturday. This is a completely new challenge.”
As the MLS Cup final approaches, the narrative writes itself: Messi edging closer to crowning his American chapter with silverware, Müller seeking to add another major triumph to his storied career, and two reborn teams converging on the biggest night in modern MLS history.
0 Comments