Post by : Meena Ariff

Thomas Muller, the renowned German footballer, has initiated early psychological games with Lionel Messi in the lead-up to the MLS Cup final. Training with the Vancouver Whitecaps, Muller has faced Messi multiple times in significant European and global contests, emerging victorious in seven of their ten encounters.

As the countdown to the MLS Cup final begins, the Vancouver Whitecaps are set to clash with Inter Miami. The Whitecaps secured their place in the final for the first time following a 3-1 victory against San Diego FC in the Western Conference Final, while Messi's Inter Miami showcased dominance with a 5-1 win over New York City FC.

Before the much-anticipated match, Muller downplayed the individual rivalry, asserting that the focus should be on team performance instead. In an interview with MLSsoccer.com, he highlighted Vancouver's strong team spirit, contrasting it with Miami's reliance on Messi. He commented, "This game is not just about Messi versus Thomas Muller; it’s about our teams competing. They might depend on him a bit more than we do on me, given our incredible team dynamics."

Muller also recognized Messi's significant contributions to the football world, branding him "the greatest player to ever grace the game," and acknowledged that Messi's presence has enhanced the viewership of Major League Soccer. He believes that heightened attention on the league brings greater value to players, clubs, and franchises.

Mentioning his journey with Vancouver, Muller pointed out that the squad was already performing well when he joined in August. However, following a challenging Concacaf final, the team faced injuries and a tough summer period. He remarked, "When I arrived in August, they were in good form. Things were looking up until the Concacaf final. The summer, however, presented some challenges with injuries and a lack of victories."

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