The MLS Cup final is set for Saturday in Fort Lauderdale, featuring Lionel Messi leading Inter Miami against the surging Vancouver Whitecaps. Two years after his arrival, Messi aims to deliver Miami their first domestic championship since joining MLS in 2020.
After a rocky start to the season where the team, then led by Javier Mascherano, picked up only two wins in eight games (including a 5-1 aggregate loss to Vancouver in the CONCACAF Champions Cup in April), Miami underwent a major transformation.
Broadcast analysts had previously offered a "withering verdict" that the team "can't run, can't defend." The side is now "reborn," masterminded by Messi and fueled by a dazzling playoff run, scoring 17 goals in five games. Key changes include the acquisition of Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul for steel and mobility, and the relegation of Luis Suarez to the bench in favor of the younger, faster Mateo Silvetti (19). Messi believes playing at home at Chase Stadium will be a crucial advantage, stating: "Playing at home is a plus... at home we always stayed strong."
Blocking Miami's path is a vibrant Vancouver side powered by German great Thomas Mueller, who joined the club in August, adding potency to an already dangerous Whitecaps attack. The final will feature four World Cup winners: Messi, Mueller, Inter's Sergio Busquets, and Argentina's Rodrigo De Paul.
Mueller, however, played down the personal rivalry, stating: "It's not about Messi against Thomas Mueller. It's Miami against the Whitecaps." Mueller holds a rare winning record against Messi, having won seven of their ten previous encounters, including the 2014 World Cup final and Bayern Munich's 8-2 victory over Barcelona in the 2020 Champions League.
Whitecaps coach Jesper Sorensen dismissed the relevance of their April victories over Miami, noting the changes: "It's a new game. It's two teams that approach the game in their way, and we will see who comes out on top come Saturday."
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