Lionel Messi celebrates his first title in the USA. With Inter Miami, the superstar won the MLS final against Thomas Müller’s Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1.
Brave, passionate, tireless – but in the end Thomas Müller (36) was left empty-handed. The German world champion and his Vancouver Whitecaps lost the MLS final against Inter Miami and Lionel Messi (38) 1:3. For Messi it was the first championship title in the American league – and only his fourth victory in the eleventh direct duel with Müller.
Miami thus fulfilled the goal that had loomed over everything since Messi’s move in June 2023: the first title in the club’s history. Owner David Beckham (50) has been talking about the “championship project” for months – now it is reality.
Messi pays tribute to Müller
“It is important for the league and Vancouver that he is now playing in the MLS. With Müller they are even stronger. He gives them a lot of quality and experience. It will be a wonderful final.”
21,000 fans at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale saw this final – including around 2,000 Vancouver fans who were not afraid of the 4,500 kilometer journey.
Müller runs, fights – and still has no luck
Things had looked bad during the week: Müller was suffering from a tendon injury in his thigh and had to slow down. But in the final he showed no trace of it. In the first half he covered 5.4 kilometers – more than any other player on the pitch.
Müller’s frustration
After the break, his strength visibly dwindled, but not his commitment. When he was about to be replaced, he defiantly remained on the field. A finale? Müller signaled that more had to happen.
But his fighting spirit was not rewarded. Vancouver fell behind early on – after a typical Messi moment, a stroke of genius from the Argentine. The Whitecaps never recovered from this setback.
