Messi and Muller relishing 'perfect' MLS Cup showdown

Lionel Messi and Thomas Muller are anticipating a thrilling showdown as they prepare for a "perfect" MLS Cup final.

Messi's Inter Miami host Muller's Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday as the 2025 MLS season comes to a close in style, with two of the competition's star names going head-to-head.

It will be the 11th meeting between these two modern greats. Muller has won seven of his previous 10 encounters with Messi across clashes for both club and country.

Muller joined Vancouver after leaving Bayern Munich earlier this year. He made an immediate impact. Since his MLS debut, only Anders Dreyer (20), Denis Bouanga (19) and Son Heung-min (18) have registered more goal contributions than Muller’s 14 among players from teams in the Western Conference.

But there is no doubt that 2025 has been Messi’s year in the MLS. He registered a phenomenal 56 goal contributions in 33 appearances (35 goals and 21 assists). The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner became the first player in the competition's history to finish a regular season with at least 18 goals and 18 assists.

And Muller believes Saturday's clash at Chase Stadium is a fitting finale.

"I think this match is great," he told MLS Season Pass. "Two teams with a very attractive and good-looking playing style. So yeah, a perfect final in my opinion.

"I’m appreciative to be a part of it. And this Cup, it’s why we are here, and we want to bring him home. First time since a long time, but we’re very excited."

Whoever wins on Saturday, there will be a new name on the MLS Cup, with neither Miami nor Vancouver having so far managed to get their hands on the title.

"It is very nice that he has come to play in MLS and the repercussions that this represents," Messi told MLS Season Pass.

"It’s good that this final came to be and that we can face each other again.

"We have already faced Vancouver and we know what kind of team they are. They were a very consistent team throughout the year that finished among the top teams and competed in all competitions until the end, just as we did.

"We know it's going to be a very, very tough game, and the addition of Muller coming to that team makes them much better still. It brings more awareness to the game, to the team, and it will be a very, very special final, which we hope will be in our favour."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Inter Miami - Lionel Messi

This will be Messi’s 26th career final (excluding super cups), with his team winning 17 of them (including two penalty shoot-out wins).

Messi has 24 career goal contributions in those 25 finals (18 goals, six assists) but has not been involved in a goal in the last two (Copa America 2024, Leagues Cup 2025).

Vancouver Whitecaps - Brian White

White scored two of Vancouver’s three goals in their Western Conference final win over San Diego FC, taking his total to 18 goals for the year.

Over the last three regular seasons, including playoffs, White’s 50 goals are the third most in MLS (Bouanga 72, Messi 57) and 16 more than any other American player.

MATCH PREDICTION: INTER MIAMI WIN

The Whitecaps eliminated Miami in the CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-finals in April, winning 2-0 at home and 3-1 away in the club’s first two meetings with Messi.

The only teams to defeat Messi’s teams in three straight matches in which he appeared are Bayern and Real Madrid.

However, Miami are the favourites according to Opta's predictive model.

Miami reached the final with three consecutive wins by four goals (4-0 v Nashville, 4-0 v FC Cincinnati, 5-1 v New York City FC).

They are the first team in MLS history to record three straight wins by four or more goals (regular season or playoffs).

Prior to this year, meanwhile, the Whitecaps had advanced just two total times in the MLS Playoffs (2017 first round, 2024 play-in round).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Inter Miami - 51.3%

Draw - 24.7%

Vancouver Whitecaps - 24.0%