FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) 鈥� For Lionel Messi, on Saturday will represent some endings. And, quite possibly, a new beginning.
Messi and Inter Miami will take on Thomas Muller 鈥� one of his longtime rivals 鈥� and for Major League Soccer’s championship. It’s the first final for both clubs, which means MLS is about to have a first-time champion.
鈥淲e know it鈥檚 going to be a very, very tough game. … It’s going to be a very, very special final,” Messi said in remarks distributed by the team Thursday.
But for Messi, it’s the end of a couple eras. It’s the last match planned at Inter Miami’s current home, with the team set to move into a still-under-construction stadium near Miami International Airport next season. And barring some serious changes of heart, it’ll be the last time he gets to play with longtime teammates Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets 鈥� they’re both retiring after Saturday 鈥� and possibly Luis Suarez as well.
鈥淚鈥檓 very grateful for the career I鈥檝e had, the teams I鈥檝e played for, everything I鈥檝e learned, everything I鈥檝e enjoyed, and well, it鈥檚 been a privilege,鈥� Alba said in Spanish on Thursday. 鈥淵es, it鈥檚 a week with a lot of emotions, knowing that it鈥檚 going to be my last game … and hopefully, I end my career in the best possible scenario, in a final and we win.鈥�
It’s not like Messi needs this win for his legacy; Argentina’s star 鈥� a winner of 46 championships for club and country worldwide, the most in history 鈥� is widely considered the greatest player ever and Saturday’s outcome won’t help or hurt that reputation. Same goes for Muller, the German great who has been on the winning end of a World Cup final in which he played against Messi (and Javier Mascherano, now the Inter Miami coach).
鈥淚t鈥檚 good that this final has come about and that we鈥檙e facing each other again,鈥� Messi said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e already faced Vancouver and we understand the caliber of their team.鈥�
That said, Saturday will bring at least one first: If Vancouver wins, Muller will be the first player to win a World Cup and an MLS Cup. If Inter Miami wins, Messi, Rodrigo De Paul and Busquets will become the first trio to say they were both a World Cup and an MLS champion.
鈥淲e are going to have four World Cup winners on the pitch,” Mascherano said. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 very, very interesting for the league.鈥�
Muller 鈥� part of more than 30 trophy wins for club and country himself 鈥� was asked how the MLS Cup ranks on his list.
鈥淎t the moment, I rank it No. 1,” Muller said. 鈥淏ecause it鈥檚 the only final that we are talking about. It鈥檚 upcoming. At the moment, for me, this final on Saturday is the most important thing in my life.鈥�
He then paused a bit.
“That鈥檚 a good line, ah?鈥� he asked, laughing at his joke.
But clearly, the MLS Cup is something that both teams want badly. For Inter Miami, it’s a chance to prove that bringing in the Barcelona foursome 鈥� Messi, Alba, Suarez and Busquets 鈥� was all worth it. For Vancouver, which beat Inter Miami twice this season in the CONCACAF Champions League, it’s a chance to win a trophy and go through Messi to get it done.
鈥淥bviously, they were much better than us in April,鈥� Mascherano said. 鈥淏ut the situation is not the same. We are in a different situation. We arrive to this final with confidence, with some different players. And we know that they have a very, very good team.鈥�
Of late …
Inter Miami is 10-2-1 in its last 13 matches, going back to the regular season. The team has been particularly dominant in three win-or-go-home matches during these MLS playoffs, winning those by a combined score of 13-1.
Vancouver is 7-1-5 in its last 13 matches and has given up a total of 17 goals in its last 17 matches against MLS opponents.
Home edge
The team playing in its home stadium, or home market, has won 11 of the last 14 MLS Cup titles. Of the three that lost in that scenario, two fell in penalty kicks.
Vancouver won at Inter Miami in April in the CONCACAF semifinals. Inter Miami is 16-2-2 across all competitions at home since.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been ready for this this whole season,” Vancouver midfielder Sebastian Berhalter said. “The pressure, it comes with it. It’s a privilege and it鈥檚 fun and I think you know our guys are going to lean into it and enjoy it. Home team, away team, I don鈥檛 think it matters.鈥�
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