The path toward Inter Miami’s first-ever MLS Cup has only one obstacle left — and it’s a familiar one. Waiting on the other side of the final is a player who has tormented Lionel Messi for more than a decade: Thomas Müller. Now the star of the Vancouver Whitecaps, the German forward remains one of the very few footballers who hold a dominant head-to-head record against the Argentine legend at both club and international level.

Why Is Thomas Müller Considered Messi’s Historical Nemesis?

Because the numbers simply don’t lie. Across 10 official and friendly meetings, Müller has won 7, while Messi has taken only 3. And these weren’t minor fixtures — their clashes came on the biggest stages the sport has to offer: the Champions League, the World Cup, and elite international friendlies.

Among the most infamous showdowns are:

• Bayern Munich 4–0 Barcelona (2013)
• Bayern Munich 8–2 Barcelona (2020)
• Germany 1–0 Argentina (2014 World Cup Final)

Messi did enjoy moments of brilliance — the 3–0 win over Bayern in 2015, for example — but those victories feel distant in a rivalry overwhelmingly colored by German dominance.

The cold reality is this: Messi hasn’t beaten a team with Müller on the pitch in more than a decade.

How Does This Rivalry Arrive in MLS Territory?

The December 6 final at Chase Stadium isn’t just an MLS Cup showdown. It’s the unexpected return of a duel that once defined some of the sport’s most iconic nights.

Inter Miami enter the match powered by Messi’s absurd numbers — 35 goals and 22 assists — and backed by a reinforced attack featuring Luis Suárez, Tadeo Allende, and Telasco Segovia. Under the spotlight, Miami have evolved into one of the most dominant offensive sides in the league.

Vancouver, meanwhile, found its anchor in Thomas Müller. His experience, calmness under pressure, tactical reading, and knack for showing up in big games have turned him into the leader of a team punching above expectations. And there’s another layer: Müller knows how to face Messi. He has done it repeatedly, successfully, and mercilessly.

What’s Really at Stake for Messi?

More than a championship.

Messi is within reach of winning his first league title in the United States, a milestone that would cement his transformative impact on MLS and validate the Inter Miami project at its highest level. Yet the road to that glory runs straight through the one opponent who has consistently beaten him in the biggest moments of his career.

This time, there is no Barcelona vs. Bayern or Argentina vs. Germany. It’s Inter Miami vs. Vancouver Whitecaps, two clubs seeking their first major crown and relying on their leaders to deliver history.

The stage is set.
If Messi wants to lift the MLS Cup, he’ll have to close a painful chapter — and finally defeat the one rival he’s never managed to break.