Inter Miami and Vancouver Whitecaps will meet in an unprecedented Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup final on Saturday, each chasing its first Philip F.
Anschutz Trophy. The spectacle features two FIFA World Cup winners, Lionel Messi and Thomas Muller, whose renewed rivalry has electrified fans worldwide.
Messi, at 38, delivered the season Inter Miami had envisioned when signing the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner. He guided the club to its first MLS Cup final, set an all-time assist record of 405, and scored 29 goals with 19 assists in the regular campaign. He added six goals and seven assists in the postseason, proving decisive in Miami’s run.
Meanwhile, Muller, who joined Vancouver in August, became instrumental in their campaign. The longtime Bayern Munich talisman scored seven goals and provided three assists in seven regular-season matches, driving the Whitecaps to the final. Historically, Muller holds the edge in head-to-head meetings, winning seven of their ten encounters, including Bayern’s famous victories over Barcelona in 2013 and 2020, and Germany’s triumph over Argentina in the 2014 World Cup final.
Fans have responded with record demand. According to TickPick, this year’s MLS Cup is the most expensive on record, with average ticket prices reaching USD 565. MLS and Apple will match the hype with their largest broadcast production ever, featuring more than 30 cameras, drones, robotic goal units, referee cams, and isolated feeds on players and coaches.
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