FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) \u2014 For Lionel Messi,\u00a0the MLS Cup final\u00a0on Saturday will represent some endings. And, quite possibly, a new beginning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Messi and Inter Miami will take on Thomas M\u00fcller \u2014 one of his longtime rivals \u2014 and\u00a0the Vancouver Whitecaps\u00a0for Major League Soccer’s championship. It’s the first final for both clubs, which means MLS is about to have a first-time champion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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 \u2014 they’re both retiring after Saturday \u2014 and possibly Luis Suarez as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m very grateful for the career I\u2019ve had, the teams I\u2019ve played for, everything I\u2019ve learned, everything I\u2019ve enjoyed, and well, it\u2019s been a privilege,\u201d Alba said in Spanish on Thursday. \u201cYes, it\u2019s a week with a lot of emotions, knowing that it\u2019s going to be my last game … and hopefully, I end my career in the best possible scenario, in a final and we win.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s not like Messi needs this win for his legacy; Argentina’s star \u2014 a winner of 46 championships for club and country worldwide, the most in history \u2014 is widely considered the greatest player ever and Saturday’s outcome won’t help or hurt that reputation. Same goes for M\u00fcller, 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).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That said, Saturday will bring at least one first: If Vancouver wins, M\u00fcller 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are going to have four World Cup winners on the pitch,” Mascherano said. “I think it\u2019s very, very interesting for the league.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
M\u00fcller \u2014 part of more than 30 trophy wins for club and country himself \u2014 was asked how the MLS Cup ranks on his list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAt the moment, I rank it No. 1,” Muller said. \u201cBecause it\u2019s the only final that we are talking about. It\u2019s upcoming. At the moment, for me, this final on Saturday is the most important thing in my life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He then paused a bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“That\u2019s a good line, ah?\u201d he asked, laughing at his joke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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 \u2014 Messi, Alba, Suarez and Busquets \u2014 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cObviously, they were much better than us in April,\u201d Mascherano said. \u201cBut 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vancouver won at Inter Miami in April in the CONCACAF semifinals. Inter Miami is 16-2-2 across all competitions at home since.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been ready for this this whole season,” Vancouver midfielder Sebastian Berhalter said. “The pressure, it comes with it. It’s a privilege and it\u2019s fun and I think you know our guys are going to lean into it and enjoy it. Home team, away team, I don\u2019t think it matters.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"