FORT LAUDERDALE: The 2025 MLS Cup final is set for a blockbuster showdown as Inter Miami take on the Vancouver Whitecaps, with both clubs targeting their first-ever Philip F. Anschutz Trophy. The spotlight will fall on the rekindled rivalry between two of football’s biggest icons — Lionel Messi and Thomas Muller.
Major League Soccer has announced its most ambitious broadcast production to date, with the championship match set to be aired free across more than 100 countries. Ticket prices have hit record highs, reflecting the enormous global interest surrounding the star-studded final.
Messi’s Spectacular Season Fuels Miami’s Title Charge
Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi has been in exceptional form. The Argentine legend has delivered:
- 29 goals
- 19 assists
during the regular season, followed by - 6 goals and
- 7 assists
in the postseason.
His leadership has been instrumental in Miami’s run to the final and has helped push the profile of MLS to new heights.
Muller Transforms Vancouver After Blockbuster Move
Vancouver’s marquee summer signing Thomas Muller has also made a huge impact since arriving from Bayern Munich in August. The 36-year-old German veteran has contributed:
- 7 goals
- 3 assists
in just seven regular-season appearances, leading the Whitecaps to the MLS Cup final and helping power their impressive CONCACAF Champions Cup campaign earlier in the year.
Historic Rivalry Renewed
The Messi–Muller rivalry has deep roots. Muller holds the edge in their 10 previous meetings, winning 7 times, including:
- Bayern Munich’s dominant victories over Barcelona in the 2013 and 2020 Champions League, and
- Germany’s triumph over Argentina in the 2014 FIFA World Cup final.
Now, after years on different continents, the two legends meet again—this time on American soil, with a major trophy on the line.
Speaking after Vancouver’s Western Conference final victory, Muller praised Messi while expressing excitement about the matchup:
“This is the final I wanted. Playing against the best player to ever play our sport makes the occasion bigger. Matches like this attract attention all over the world.”
Muller also added that Inter Miami’s reliance on Messi gives the final an intriguing dynamic:
“Perhaps they rely on him a little more than this team relies on me.”
A Global Spectacle Awaits
With two of football’s greatest names headlining the evening, the 2025 MLS Cup final promises to be one of the most watched matches in league history. The clash offers not just a championship, but a new chapter in the storied rivalry between Messi and Muller, making it a “perfect situation for everyone involved.”
