“It’s not about Messi against Thomas Müller,” he told reporters after Vancouver’s 3-1 win over San Diego in the Western Conference final on Saturday night. “It’s Miami against the Whitecaps.”
Then he added, “Maybe they rely a little bit more on him than we do on me, because we are such a good group.”
What Messi thinks of the matchup — he’s gone head to head with Müller 10 times in various competitions, and his side has won only three of those — is a bit of mystery and likely may stay that way. Inter Miami rarely makes Messi available for interviews.
This much, however, is known: Messi came to Inter Miami midway through 2023 with the goal of winning an MLS Cup, something that seemed far-fetched at the time considering when he joined the club it was at the bottom of the league. A win on Saturday would fulfill his quest and would cap a season when Messi also won MLS’ Golden Boot as the top scorer — plus, more than likely, a second consecutive league MVP award.
“Even though he’s the best in history … it’s unfair to believe that he’s going to win every game,” Mascherano said after Inter Miami’s 5-1 romp past New York City FC in the Eastern Conference final on Saturday night. “Everybody has raised their level.”
It’s not like either Messi or Müller needs a win on Saturday to complete some sort of validation. Their resumes and legacies were secured long ago: Both are World Cup winners, both are Champions League winners, both are Club World Cup winners.
But like Messi, Müller came to MLS — he joined Vancouver four months ago — seeking a title in that league to add to the list. The chance has arrived.
“I enjoy watching him,” Müller said in an on-field interview for Apple TV following Vancouver’s win Saturday night. “I have the feeling Miami’s a very strong team. We saw them beating New York in quite a really strong manner. It’s a big final. I wished for this final. And here we go. I think it’s great for everyone.”
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AP MLS: https://apnews.com/hub/major-league-soccer
Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press