Argentine football icon, Lionel Messi, stands on the cusp of completing a remarkable transformation of Inter Miami. The club is set for a monumental title showdown against the in-form Vancouver Whitecaps in Saturday’s highly anticipated MLS Cup final.

Two years after his arrival in Florida, Messi instantly reshaped the profile and competitiveness of Major League Soccer. Now, the 38-year-old maestro is within reach of securing the first domestic trophy in Miami’s history. The club, which launched as an expansion team in 2020, has long envisioned this defining moment.

Miami’s Remarkable Playoff Journey

Inter Miami enters the final playing their best football of the season. A shaky start to their campaign led many to write them off. However, Messi has inspired a thrilling march through the playoffs. The team has demonstrated formidable attacking prowess, netting 17 goals in just five matches.

Their biggest challenge now comes from a confident Vancouver side. The Canadian club has surged since German World Cup winner Thomas Müller joined them in August. Müller’s arrival has added a sharp edge to their already lively attack.

A Clash of World Champions

The match at Chase Stadium is set to feature four World Cup champions on the pitch. Müller will line up against Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Argentina’s Rodrigo De Paul. This star-studded encounter has been hailed as a marketer’s dream. Despite the personal duels many expect, Müller insists the night is about the teams.

“It’s not about Messi against Thomas Müller,” he stated after Vancouver’s 3-1 victory over San Diego in the Western Conference final. “It’s Miami against the Whitecaps.”

Overcoming Early Season Struggles

Miami’s presence in the final still feels extraordinary to many. Back in April, Javier Mascherano’s team appeared flat, tired, and predictable. They managed to win only two of their opening eight matches. A heavy 5-1 aggregate defeat to Vancouver in the CONCACAF Champions Cup further intensified criticism.

However, everything has since changed. De Paul’s arrival injected urgency and bite into the midfield. Furthermore, Mascherano’s bold decision to replace 38-year-old Luis Suárez with 19-year-old Mateo Silvetti revitalized the attack. Suddenly, the team boasts a younger, quicker, and more dangerous profile.

Coaches’ Perspectives and Home Advantage

Whitecaps coach Jesper Sorensen dismisses his side’s earlier wins over Miami as an indicator for the final. “It almost seems like it was last season, right?” Sorensen commented on Thursday. “It’s a new game. It’s two teams that approach the game in their way. We will see who comes out on top come Saturday.”

Messi, who has largely maintained a low profile since joining MLS, believes home support could be a crucial factor. He told ESPN Argentina: “We’re in a very good moment. The team is solid and excited. Playing at home is a plus. Even though we went through a stretch where we were inconsistent and struggled to win back-to-back games, at home we always stayed strong.”

Müller vs. Messi: A Familiar Rivalry

Standing opposite Messi will be a familiar adversary in Thomas Müller. The German remains one of the few players in world football with a winning record against the Argentine maestro. Müller has claimed seven victories in their ten previous encounters.

These notable victories include the 2014 World Cup final in Rio and Bayern Munich’s shocking 8-2 win over Barcelona in the 2020 Champions League quarter-final. Müller, reflecting on their history, said: “I look back in the past, and I feel very comfortable with that. That’s already in the books, and I had a lot of great experience in these games with my teams. So it was fun. But it doesn’t really matter for Saturday; it’s a new game.”

As the final whistle approaches, all eyes will be on Chase Stadium. Football fans eagerly await to see if Messi can clinch another historic title for Inter Miami.