“It’s not about Messi versus Thomas Müller,” the Bayern Munich legend said in the lead-up to Saturday’s MLS Cup Final between Inter Miami and his new team, the Vancouver Whitecaps.
But for fans who have followed these two storied careers, it feels like a fitting coda to a rivalry just as big in stature as the players themselves.
Champions League battles for FC Bayern and FC Barcelona. A World Cup Final triumph for Germany over Argentina. Müller and Messi have represented club and country at the highest
levels over the years. Meeting in North America is just the newest, and perhaps last chapter of the saga.
It has been quite a season for European stars in the twilight of their playing careers finding new life in MLS. Müller’s instant impact in Vancouver was perhaps eclipsed by Son Heung-min’s enterprising goal-scoring antics for LAFC. But when the teams met in the quarter-finals, it was the Whitecaps that prevailed, after the dust had settled at the end of penalties — sensational Sonny strikes and all.
Now it’s the Final, and who else but Messi to face Müller again. Messi has had the finest MLS season of his career this season, his third in Miami. The Argentine mega-star has an astonishing 29 goals and 16 assists in league play, calling back to the days when he ran the show for Barça — and of course, he has former Barça teammates Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets with him again.
For VWFC, Müller has come in and rather be the centerpiece himself, elevated everyone around him. Striker Brian White scored a brace in the Whitecaps’ 3-1 win over FC Dallas in the semifinal. Sebastian Berhalter, son of former USMNT coach Gregg, is a key cog in the Vancouver midfield and a comedy duo with Müller on the sidelines after matches.
The team spirit is real, and although it’s no accident that it seems to follow Müller around wherever he goes, it will take much more than the German maestro to settle scores in the Whitecaps’ favor on Saturday night.
Prediction: Vancouver lifts the Cup. The old bearded German man with the fifteen-year-old knees goes the distance but doesn’t wind up on the scoresheet in a 3-2 extra time thriller. Yet, if you watched closely, you would see his critical involvement in each Whitecaps goal. Individual glory won’t be the story of the day, and for Thomas, that’s just how he wants it as he adds another trophy to his cabinet.
It’s MüllerTime.
Match Info
Location: Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Date: Saturday, December 6th, 2025
Time: 2:30 pm EST
TV/streaming: Find Your Country
Tips for commenting:
- If you’re a new member, feel free to introduce yourself! We’re
mostlyvery friendly! Also, we’re from all parts of the world so don’t feel shy if you’re from a country that doesn’t seem represented on the blog. - Use the on-screen “Refresh comments” button to periodically load new comments.
- Keep the sorting to “newest” to easily follow the conversation. It puts the newest comments at the top.
- While swearing is allowed within reason, please be polite to your fellow posters and avoid gratuitous obscenities. Racist, homophobic, and misogynistic language is not allowed whatsoever.
Check out our beginners thread if you have any more questions. That’s about it. Auf geht’s!
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
