Muller fires early shots as MLS Cup showdown with Messi nears

German football great Thomas Muller has sparked early mind games with Lionel Messi and Inter Miami ahead of the MLS Cup final. Muller, now with the Vancouver Whitecaps, has a long history of facing Messi in major European and international matches. While Messi is often called the greatest of all time, Muller’s teams have usually come out on top, winning seven of their meetings compared to Messi’s three.

The rivalry will continue in the MLS Cup final as Vancouver Whitecaps face Inter Miami. Vancouver reached their first-ever final after a 3-1 win over San Diego FC in the Western Conference Final, while Messi and Inter Miami dominated New York City FC 5-1.

Before the final, Muller played down the personal rivalry with Messi, saying the match is about the teams, not the individuals. Speaking to MLSsoccer.com, he noted that Vancouver rely on strong teamwork, while Miami depend more on Messi’s influence. He said, “It’s not about Messi against Thomas Muller; it’s Miami against the Whitecaps. Maybe they rely a little bit more on him than we do on me, because we are such a good group.”

Muller also praised Messi, calling him “the greatest player who played our game and is still playing it,” and said Messi has brought a larger audience to Major League Soccer. According to Muller, more attention on the league increases the value for players, teams and franchises.

He also talked about his role at Vancouver, saying the team was already strong when he arrived in August. They performed well until the Concacaf final, though injuries and a rough patch during the summer affected their momentum. “When I came in August, they were already in good shape. Until the Concacaf final, things were going really well. The summer break was a bit of a bumpy road with injuries and fewer wins,” he added.