Lionel Messi Speaks Out on Why MLS Cup Final Will Be ‘Very Special’

Inter Miami are headed to the MLS Cup final, and making things better, they will be hosting the championship game at home, at Chase Stadium, for the first time ever.

It will also be the first MLS Cup final to be played in Florida. Inter Miami got the hosting rights by virtue of having a better record than the Vancouver Whitecaps, who won the Western Conference title and secured a ticket to the finale.

Inter Miami finished the regular season with a 19-8-7 win-draw-loss record, while Vancouver had an 18-9-7 tally.

As both teams look to make history by winning their first MLS Cup title ever, Inter Miami star Lionel Messi spoke about the upcoming showdown and highlighted why it is extra special.

It is worth noting that German soccer legend Thomas Muller plays for the Whitecaps, having joined the club last August. Both Messi and Muller have had several battles in the past when they were part of FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich, respectively.

For Messi, facing Muller again, this time in the MLS, makes the final even more exciting.

“The fact that Muller has joined the team makes it even better,” Messi said, per MLS. “It’s going to be a very, very special final.”

Inter Miami and Vancouver will face each other on Saturday. The Herons are 11-3-3 at home, so the Whitecaps are certainly facing a difficult challenge.

However, it should be noted that Vancouver eliminated Inter Miami in the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals with a 5-1 aggregate win.