Two football giants meet again, this time in the final nobody imagined but everyone wants to see
The 2025 MLS Cup promises a special shine. Not only because Inter Miami and Vancouver Whitecaps arrive at their peak form, but also because fate has crossed Lionel Messi and Thomas Müller once more, two names that defined an era… usually on opposite sides.
The German arrives as the unexpected “antagonist,” the player capable of reading the Argentine in decisive matches. From Brazil 2014 to Bayern’s historic 8-2 win over Barcelona in 2020, Müller always appeared in Messi’s toughest chapters. Now, wearing Vancouver’s jersey, he’s back in his path.
His impact in Canada has been electric: immediate leadership, a united locker room, and stats that explain why the Whitecaps trusted him from day one. In just a few months, he has become the team’s emotional and competitive engine.
On the other side, Messi arrives in his MLS prime: decisive, consistent, and posting near-unreal goal contribution records. He has taken Inter Miami to a level of maturity that makes them clear title contenders.
This final goes beyond marketing and nostalgia. Messi and Müller are just the tip of the iceberg for two intense, offensive teams ready for a historic clash.
For the first time, MLS offers a game that captures global attention: the exception to the rule, the antagonist against the genius.
A duel that doesn’t happen often… but football has given us again.