Messi Dreams Big: MLS Final Showdown Between Inter Miami and Vancouver

Argentine superstar Lionel Messi is just one game away from cementing his transformative impact on Inter Miami as the club gears up to face the in-form Vancouver Whitecaps in Saturday’s MLS Cup final.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Two years after his arrival in Florida, which instantly elevated the profile and competitiveness of Major League Soccer, the 38-year-old is on the verge of securing the first domestic trophy in Miami’s history. Since its founding as an expansion team in 2020, the club has long dreamed of this moment.

Miami enters the final having played their most impressive football of the season. A slow start had many writing them off, but Messi has inspired a thrilling playoff run, with the team scoring 17 goals in five matches.

Their main challenge comes from a confident Vancouver side. The Canadian club has surged since the arrival of German World Cup winner Thomas Müller in August, adding extra sharpness to an already potent attack.

The final at Chase Stadium will feature four World Cup champions on the pitch: Messi, Sergio Busquets, Rodrigo De Paul, and Müller. While it has been hyped as a personal showdown, Müller insists the focus is on the teams, not individual stars.

“It’s not about Messi against Thomas Müller,” he said after Vancouver’s 3-1 victory over San Diego in the Western Conference final. “It’s Miami against the Whitecaps.”

Miami’s journey to the final has been remarkable. In April, Javier Mascherano’s squad looked sluggish and predictable, winning just two of their first eight matches. A heavy 5-1 aggregate defeat to Vancouver in the CONCACAF Champions Cup only amplified criticism.

Since then, the team has transformed. Rodrigo De Paul’s arrival added energy and aggression in midfield, while Mascherano’s bold move to replace 38-year-old Luis Suárez with 19-year-old Mateo Silvetti revitalized the attack. The team now appears faster, younger, and more dangerous.

Whitecaps coach Jesper Sorensen refuses to see past victories over Miami as a predictor for the final.

“It almost seems like it was last season,” Sorensen said Thursday. “It’s a new game. Both teams have their approaches, and we’ll see who comes out on top Saturday.”

Messi, who has kept a low profile since joining MLS, told ESPN Argentina that home support could be decisive.

“We’re in a very good moment; the team is solid and excited,” he said. “Playing at home is a plus. Even though we struggled with consistency earlier, we stayed strong at home.”

Across from Messi will stand a familiar rival. Müller is one of the few players with a winning record against him, claiming seven victories in ten encounters, including the 2014 World Cup final and Bayern Munich’s 8-2 shock win over Barcelona in the 2020 Champions League quarter-final.

“I look back on those games with comfort; they were valuable experiences with my teams,” Müller said. “But it doesn’t matter for Saturday — it’s a new game.”