Two star-led teams. Two teams with first-year head coaches. Two teams with clear styles. Two teams trying to win their first MLS Cup.
Saturday’s MLS Cup between Inter Miami and the Vancouver Whitecaps isn’t short on intrigue. Today, we’re diving into the seven biggest questions that will decide this year’s final – and we’re not skimping on the detail.
Onwards.
Will Messi win the game for Inter Miami?
I can (and will) write a very detailed preview for this game in the coming sections. But it’s entirely possible that nothing below this section will matter one bit because of a certain Argentine No. 10 named Lionel Messi. If you’ve watched Messi conduct Inter Miami at all in 2025, I’m certain you’ll suspect that you’re watching part of the greatest individual season in MLS history. I mean, the things this guy does on the ball are and have always been otherworldly…
…but Messi has somehow still been even better this season than you think.
While balancing the busiest schedule any MLS team has ever had across all competitions (they’ll have played a record 58 games by the blow of the full-time whistle on Saturday), Messi has posted the most productive season in MLS history. His 56 combined goals and assists across the regular season and playoffs puts him first in single-season goal contributions by a country mile. Carlos Vela’s 2019 season is the next closest, with the former LAFC star notching 47 goal contributions while taking an extra game to get there.
