MLS final not about Muller vs Messi — Ex-Bayern star shuts down narrative

Thomas Muller is no stranger to facing Lionel Messi with a championship on the line, and he knows what it takes to come out on top. However, the German star insists the 2025 MLS Cup final is about more than just a personal duel.

The highly anticipated showdown will see Müller's Vancouver Whitecaps take on Messi's Inter Miami. While the matchup inevitably brings back memories of their clashes in the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, both won by Müller's Germany, the veteran forward was quick to shift the focus.

"It's not about Messi against Thomas Müller," Müller stated after Vancouver's 3-1 victory over San Diego in the Western Conference final.

"It's Miami against the Whitecaps."

He then added a subtle jab, suggesting a difference in team dynamics: "Maybe they rely a little bit more on him than we do on me, because we are such a good group."

The two football icons have faced each other ten times across various competitions, with Müller’s teams winning seven of those encounters. Messi's perspective on this latest chapter remains unknown, as Inter Miami rarely makes him available for interviews.

A victory on Saturday would be the culmination of Messi's primary goal since joining Inter Miami in mid-2023: winning an MLS Cup. At the time of his arrival, the club was languishing at the bottom of the league standings.

Now, he is on the verge of completing that mission, capping a season where he also won the MLS Golden Boot and is the favorite for a second consecutive league MVP award.

While both Müller and Messi have already secured their legacies with World Cup, Champions League, and Club World Cup titles, both came to MLS with the ambition of adding another trophy to their collections. For one of them, that opportunity arrives this Saturday.

"I enjoy watching him," Müller said of Messi in a post-game interview. "I have the feeling Miami's a very strong team... It's a big final. I wished for this final. And here we go. I think it's great for everyone."