Messi vs. Müller: MLS Cup Final Rekindles a Historic Rivalry Ahead of a Potential First-Ever MLS Title for a World Champion

Lionel Messi and Thomas Müller will meet again this Saturday in the MLS Cup Final as Inter Miami hosts the Vancouver Whitecaps at Chase Stadium. The matchup carries a decade-long history, and the numbers have never favored the Argentine superstar: just one win in nine competitive matches and eight victories for the German legend.

Their rivalry is rooted in some of the most iconic nights in world football. In the 2020 UEFA Champions League quarterfinals, Bayern Munich demolished Barcelona 8–2, with Müller scoring twice in a result that became the heaviest defeat of Messi’s career. Seven years earlier, Bayern had eliminated Barça with a 7–0 aggregate in the 2013 semifinals, winning 4–0 in Munich and 3–0 at Camp Nou. Messi finally earned a measure of revenge in 2015 when Barcelona defeated Bayern 5–3 on aggregate en route to winning the Champions League, taking a 3–0 win at home before falling 3–2 in Germany.

Their rivalry also reached the biggest stage in football: the FIFA World Cup. In the 2014 final in Brazil, Germany defeated Argentina 1–0 at the Maracanã, with Mario Götze scoring in extra time and Müller playing a key role throughout the tournament. Even after leaving Barcelona, Messi continued to cross paths with Bayern. In 2020, the Germans lifted the Champions League title after beating PSG 1–0 in the final, and in 2023 Bayern again eliminated Messi’s side with a 3–0 aggregate.

This Saturday’s MLS Cup adds a historic twist: no matter who wins, the league will crown its first-ever World Cup champion as an MLS Cup winner — Messi, world champion in 2022, or Müller, world champion in 2014. Both Inter Miami and Vancouver reach their first league final, with Messi and Müller serving as the veteran pillars of their respective squads.

The final will be played at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, December 6 at 2:30 p.m. ET (11:30 a.m. PT) and will be broadcast on FOX, FOX Deportes, and Apple TV. With history, rivalry, and two global icons on the pitch, the MLS Cup 2025 promises to be one of the most anticipated finals in league history.