Familiar foes Lionel Messi and Thomas Muller reignite their rivalry on Saturday when Inter Miami hosts the Vancouver Whitecaps in the 2025 MLS Cup.

This will mark the 11th time the Argentine and German legends meet head-to-head, with Muller holding a 7-3 edge. The two superstars have battled for club and country in the UEFA Champions League and FIFA World Cup, now it’s time to add another chapter to this rivalry.

Head-to-head

Thomas Muller: 7 wins

Lionel Messi: 3 wins

Muller may have the edge in head-to-head history, but it’s Messi and Inter Miami that lead the way as -135 favourites to win the MLS Cup, while Muller and the Vancouver Whitecaps are +280 underdogs. A regulation draw is listed at +310.

Messi, who has six goals in five playoff matches, has the shortest anytime goal odds in the match at -190. Muller has eight goals across 11 MLS regular season and playoff matches since joining Vancouver in August and he sits at +240 for an anytime goal on Saturday.

International highlights

2010 World Cup quarterfinals – Germany 4, Argentina 0

A then-20-year-old Muller opened the scoring in the second minute en route to a 4-0 blowout of Argentina in the quarterfinals of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Germany finished third in the tournament, with Muller being named Best Young Player with five goals and three assists.

2014 World Cup final – Germany 1, Argentina 0

Germany beat Argentina in the final of the 2014 World Cup for the country’s fourth World Cup trophy. Muller replicated his production from 2010 with five goals and three assists, finishing second for the Golden Ball behind none other than Messi.

Club highlights

Muller has been the more stationary of the two players in his club career, playing 17 years with Bayern Munich, while Messi split time with European giants Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain before moving to the MLS.

2012-13 UEFA Champions League semifinals – Bayern Munich 8, Barcelona 0 (aggregate)

Muller had a goal and an assist in a 4-0 rout of Messi’s Barcelona in the first leg, before adding another goal in a 3-0 second leg victory. It was Barcelona’s worst aggregate loss in tournament history, while Bayern went on to win the tournament for Muller’s first UCL title.

2014-15 UEFA Champions League semifinals – Barcelona 5, Bayern Munich 3 (aggregate)

Messi got sweet revenge two years later with two goals and an assist in a 3-0 win in Leg 1 of the Champions League semifinals. Muller scored in Leg 2, but it wasn’t enough to avoid a 5-3 aggregate loss. Barcelona then defeated Juventus in the final for Messi’s fourth and final UCL title.

2019-20 UEFA Champions League quarterfinals – Bayern Munich 8, Barcelona 2

The knockout stages were played in a single-leg format because of the COVID pandemic. It likely wouldn’t have mattered in the quarters as Bayern thumped Barca 8-2, with Muller scoring twice and adding an assist. It was Barcelona’s worst defeat in any European competition. Bayern went on to triumph over Messi’s future team, Paris Saint-Germain, in the final, for Muller’s second Champions League trophy.