2025 MLS Cup Final: Duel Dua Nama Besar, Thomas Muller Vs Lionel Messi

JAKARTA - Thomas Muller knows exactly what it's like to face Lionel Messi with the trophy at stake. He also knows what it takes to win in those moments.

The 2025 MLS Cup Final (MLS Cup)--Messi and Inter Miami vs Muller and Vancouver Whitecaps--definitely led to a comparison of the clashes between the former big names of European football.

Call it the 2014 World Cup final and the 2010 World Cup quarter-final match between Argentina and Germany.

Germany, with Muller, won both matches. Messi played in those matches for Argentina, as did Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano.

They will all meet again on Sunday, December 7, 2025, early morning WIB, at Fort Lauderdale, with Muller of course knowing that facing Messi does not necessarily mean defeat.

"It's not about Messi fighting Thomas Muller. Inter Miami is against Whitecaps. Maybe they (Inter Miami) rely a little more on it (Messi) than Whitecaps rely on me, because we are a very good team," said Muller.

What Messi thought about this match 'he has faced Muller 10 times in various competitions and his team has only won three times' is still a mystery and most likely will remain that way.

Inter Miami rarely provides Messi for interviews. However, it was only known that Messi came to Inter Miami in mid-2023 targeting to win the MLS Cup, something that was impossible at the time considering that when he joined, the club was at the bottom of the standings.

Victory in the top match will realize his dream and will close the season where Messi also won the 2025 MLS Golden Boot as the top scorer of the 'plus', most likely, the second league MVP award in a row.

"Even though he is the best in history, it is unfair to believe that he will win every game. Everyone has raised their level," Mascherano said.

The 2025 MLS Cup final is part of an important week for football in North America.

The 2026 World Cup draw in the US, Canada, and Mexico will be held on Friday, December 5, 2025, local time, in Washington DC at the same time as the awarding of the FIFA peace prize which many are expected to be awarded to President Donald Trump. MLS, if the previous performance remains the same, seems to be announcing the winner of this week's MVP award.

Meanwhile, neither Messi nor Muller need a win this weekend to get some kind of validation.

Resume and their legacy have long been stored. Both are world Cup winners, both Champions League champions, both Club World Cup champions.

But like Messi, Muller came to MLS - to join Vancouver four months ago - to win the league title. That opportunity has come.

"I love watching it. I feel Inter Miami is a very strong team. We see them beat New York in a very strong way."

"It's a big final. I hope this final. This is the result. I think this is good for everyone," said Muller.