Inter Miami vs. Vancouver Whitecaps: Four stats that will determine 2025 MLS Cup

It’s shaping up to be an all-time great meeting in this year’s MLS Cup when the Vancouver Whitecaps and Inter Miami face off in Florida.

Here are four stats that will determine the 2025 MLS Cup.

2.38, 1.94 goals per game

You can expect a high octane offensive matchup in the MLS Cup as Inter Miami and Vancouver are two of top three highest scoring MLS teams this season. Inter led the league with an average of 2.38 goals per game during the regular season, while the Whitecaps were third with 1.94 goals.

That success translated into the playoffs, with Miami scoring a combined 98 goals in the regular season and playoffs. Vancouver has scored multiple goals in every playoff game and the two teams combined to outscore their respective opponents 8-2 in the conference finals.

61 points

Lionel Messi has absolutely torched the MLS this season. His 29 regular season goals was fourth-most ever in a single-season and his 61 total goals and assists through the regular season and playoffs is already a league record with one game left to play. For comparison, the next closest player was LAFC legend Donovan Mitchell, who had 52 points in 2019 when he was named MLS MVP.

13 points

Messi won’t be the only former World Cup champion on the pitch this Saturday. Vancouver’s Thomas Muller has racked up nine goals and four assists since joining the Whitecaps in August, averaging a point for every game.

Unlike Inter Miami which focuses everything offensively through Messi, Vancouver uses Muller as part of a larger cohesive attack. There is still plenty that flows through Muller, but the 36-year-old can always be used as a threat to create space and open a more balanced attack.

17 with 1,000 minutes

Speaking of balanced attack, Vancouver is one of the most balanced lineups in Major League Soccer. The Whitecaps have a ridiculous 17 players who played over 1,000 minutes during the regular season.

Vancouver has been banged up all year, with Ryan Gauld missing significant time as well as other key injuries throughout the lineup. None of that has mattered, however, as it’s been a next man up mentality. This is one of the deepest teams in MLS history.