Will Lionel Messi finally lift his first MLS Cup, or will Thomas Müller spoil the party and deliver Vancouver’s first-ever title? Two World Cup icons, Messi vs Muller – once rivals on soccer’s grandest international stage, now collide in the 2025 MLS Cup Final — a matchup that feels more like a Hollywood script than a league game. C
an Messi’s magic conquer Müller’s winning mentality once again, or is the German legend ready to flip the story in front of the world?
The 2025 MLS Cup final will take place on December 6, 2025, at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami face Thomas Müller’s Vancouver Whitecaps in a blockbuster showdown that pits two World Cup winners against each other on MLS’s biggest stage.
Inter Miami booked their place in the final after an emphatic 5–1 victory over New York City FC in the Eastern Conference final — a performance that underlined Miami’s transformation since Messi’s arrival and cemented their status as title favorites.
Vancouver earned their spot with a 3–1 win at Snapdragon Stadium, topping San Diego FC to lift the Western Conference and reach their first MLS Cup final.
A rivalry renewed: Messi vs Müller in 2025 MLS Cup Final
The individual subplot between Lionel Messi and Thomas Müller adds extra sizzle. The two have met multiple times across club and international competitions, with most records showing roughly 10 prior meetings in which Müller holds the superior record.
Their most memorable clashes include the 2014 World Cup final — where Germany beat Argentina — and the 2010 World Cup quarterfinal. As such, this MLS Cup offers fresh stakes in a long-running matchup.
What Müller said
Since arriving in Vancouver in August 2025, Müller has been vocal about team unity and downplaying the one-on-one narrative.
After the Western final he told reporters, “It’s not about Messi against Thomas Müller — it’s Miami against the Whitecaps,” while acknowledging minor fitness niggles but expressing confidence about the final.
His arrival in MLS has already shifted the Whitecaps’ profile and ambitions.
Messi’s mission
For Messi, a win would secure his first MLS Cup since joining Inter Miami and crown a season in which he has continued to dominate MLS scoring charts and supply assists.
Miami’s supporting cast has also stepped up around him, giving coach Javier Mascherano options on and off the ball.
Key players to watch in 2025 MLS Cup Final
- Lionel Messi (Inter Miami): Game-changer in attack, primary creative outlet and goalsource.
- Thomas Müller (Vancouver): Experienced, tactically intelligent forward who lifts the Whitecaps’ attacking options since joining in August 2025.
- Supporting names: Tadeo Allende (Inter Miami — hot form in playoffs) and Vancouver’s midfield architects who have controlled big moments en route to the final.
Tactical match-up & prediction pointers
Miami will likely try to leverage Messi’s link-play and overloads down the left, while Vancouver can counter through Müller’s movement and the Whitecaps’ quick transitions.
Fitness, set pieces, and bench impact are likely to determine the final’s tight moments — expect a high-intensity, tactical battle rather than a simple star-vs-star showdown.
December 6 promises a global spectacle: a stadium packed with anticipation, two contrasting clubs at the peak of form, and a marquee Messi vs Müller storyline that will draw attention far beyond MLS audiences.
Both 2025 MLS Cup Final teams arrive with momentum and trophies within reach, making MLS Cup 2025 one of the most eagerly anticipated finals in recent league history.