US Major League Soccer
Inter Miami 5 - 1 New York City FT
World men's tennis number one Carlos Alcaraz was in Florida to watch Messi and his Miami team win the Eastern Conference title [EPA]Lionel Messi helped Inter Miami set up an MLS Cup final against Thomas Muller's Vancouver Whitecaps as both teams convincingly won their conference finals.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementInter Miami beat New York City 5-1, with Messi getting an assist and team-mate Tadeo Allende scoring a hat-trick as they secured the Eastern Conference title.
The Vancouver Whitecaps won 3-1 against San Diego FC as former Germany and Bayern Munich forward Muller led them to the Western Conference title.
Inter Miami will host the Whitecaps on Saturday, 6 December in what will be a first appearance for both teams in the MLS Cup final.
'Extraordinary' Messi gives Miami 'peace of mind'
Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano described fellow Argentine Messi as "extraordinary" after the 38-year-old's showing in the home win against New York City.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAllende scored two early goals before Justin Haak kept the visitors in the game by pulling one back after 37 minutes at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
Almost immediately after New York missed a chance, Messi set up Mateo Silvetti for Miami's third before Telasco Segovia and Allende goals completed the victory.
Messi has provided a record 13 goal contributions in the MLS Cup play-offs, with six goals and seven assists.
"Leo has accustomed us to the extraordinary," said Mascherano, who played with Messi for their national team and Barcelona.
"He's someone extraordinary, someone we'll never see again.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"Today, perhaps we're surprised that he didn't score, but he gave us peace of mind with the third goal, an assist that only he can see. He practically sealed the game."
'It's not about Messi against Muller'
The Vancouver Whitecaps, who beat Miami 5-1 on aggregate in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup semi-finals in April, were comfortable winners against San Diego FC.
Brian White put them in front before an own goal from keeper Pablo Sisniega doubled their advantage.
White struck again prior to half-time and, despite Hirving Lozano scoring for San Diego, the Whitecaps secured victory as Sisniega was sent off.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMuller, who played for 61 minutes against San Diego, has scored eight goals in 11 MLS appearances since joining the Whitecaps in August after leaving Bayern Munich.
"It's not about Messi against Thomas Muller, it's Miami against the Whitecaps," the 36-year-old told the MLS website.
"Maybe they rely a little bit more on him than we do on me, because we are such a good group, you know what I mean?
"The nice thing about it is not only playing against the greatest player who played our game and is still playing our game, it's more that, I think, when you have a pairing like this, more people are watching,"
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