For Lionel Messi, the MLS Cup final on Saturday will represent some endings. And, quite possibly, a new beginning.
Messi and Inter Miami will take on Thomas Müller — one of his longtime rivals — and Vancouver for Major League Soccer’s championship. It’s the first final for both clubs, which means MLS is about to have a first-time champion.
But for Messi, it’s the end of a couple of eras. It’s the last match planned at Inter Miami’s current home, with the team set to move into a still-under-construction stadium near Miami International Airport next season. And barring some serious changes of heart, it’ll be the last time he gets to play with longtime teammates Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets — they’re both retiring after Saturday — and possibly Luis Suárez as well.
“I’m very grateful for the career I’ve had, the teams I’ve played for, everything I’ve learned, everything I’ve enjoyed, and well, it’s been a privilege,” Alba said in Spanish on Thursday. “Yes, it’s a week with a lot of emotions, knowing that it’s going to be my last game … and hopefully, I end my career in the best possible scenario, in a final — and we win.”
It’s not like Messi needs this win for his legacy; Argentina‘s star — a winner of 46 championships for club and country worldwide, the most in history — is widely considered the greatest player ever and Saturday’s outcome won’t help or hurt that reputation. Same goes for Müller, the German great who has been on the winning end of a World Cup final in which he played against Messi (and Javier Mascherano, now the Inter Miami coach).
That said, Saturday will bring at least one first: If Vancouver wins, Müller will be the first player to win a World Cup and an MLS Cup. If Inter Miami wins, Messi, Rodrigo De Paul and Busquets will become the first trio to say they were both a World Cup and an MLS champion.
“We are going to have four World Cup winners on the pitch,” Mascherano said. “I think it’s very, very interesting for the league.”
Müller — part of more than 30 trophy wins for club and country himself — was asked how the MLS Cup ranks on his list.
“At the moment, I rank it No. 1,” Muller said. “Because it’s the only final that we are talking about. It’s upcoming. At the moment, for me, this final on Saturday is the most important thing in my life.”
He then paused a bit.
“That’s a good line, ah?” he asked, laughing at his joke.
But clearly, the MLS Cup is something that both teams want badly. For Inter Miami, it’s a chance to prove that bringing in the Barcelona foursome — Messi, Alba, Suarez and Busquets — was all worth it. For Vancouver, which beat Inter Miami twice this season in the CONCACAF Champions League, it’s a chance to win a trophy and go through Messi to get it done.
“Obviously, they were much better than us in April,” Mascherano said. “But the situation is not the same. We are in a different situation. We arrive to this final with confidence, with some different players. And we know that they have a very, very good team.”
Of late …
Inter Miami is 10-2-1 in its past 13 matches, going back to the regular season. The team has been particularly dominant in three win-or-go-home matches during these MLS playoffs, winning those by a combined score of 13-1.
Vancouver is 7-1-5 in its last 13 matches and has given up a total of 17 goals in its last 17 matches against MLS opponents.
Home edge
The team playing in its home stadium, or home market, has won 11 of the last 14 MLS Cup titles. Of the three that lost in that scenario, two fell in penalty kicks.
Vancouver won at Inter Miami in April in the CONCACAF semifinals. Inter Miami is 16-2-2 across all competitions at home since.
Reporting by The Associated Press.
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