For the first time in their history, Inter Miami have reached the MLS Cup final, led by the inimitable Lionel Messi. The American side stormed past New York City FC in the Eastern Conference playoff final yesterday with a resounding 5-1 victory, leaving fans in awe of Messi’s magical performance.
Their opponents in the final will be Canadian side Vancouver Whitecaps, who secured a 3-1 win over San Diego in the Western Conference final. The MLS Cup showdown is set for 7 December (Bangladesh time), promising not only a battle between two clubs but also a high-profile duel between Lionel Messi and Thomas Müller.
Earlier this season, Inter Miami faced Vancouver in the CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-finals. Across the two legs, Vancouver emerged victorious 5-1, but notably, Müller had not yet joined the team at that time. His presence in the upcoming final adds an extra layer of intrigue and anticipation.
Historically, Messi and Müller have gone head-to-head ten times, with Müller’s teams claiming victory on seven occasions. From the 2014 World Cup final, which Germany won 1-0 in extra time, to Bayern’s staggering 8-2 triumph over Barcelona in the 2020 Champions League semi-final, Müller has consistently held the upper hand. Excluding two friendly wins by Messi with Argentina against Germany, the Argentine superstar has only ever beaten Müller once—in the first leg of the 2014-15 Champions League semi-final, 3-0.
Despite the hype, Müller himself downplays the personal rivalry. “This isn’t Messi versus Müller. It’s Miami versus the Whitecaps,” he said after the match. “They might rely on Messi more than we rely on him, but we are a balanced team. I try to keep everyone together, and the boys value that. Yesterday, we proved ourselves both offensively and defensively.”
Yet both stars are aware of the spotlight they bring. Müller added, “When two players of this calibre meet, everyone watches. The more attention there is, the greater the value of the players, the team, and even the club itself.”