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Thomas Muller Sends Defiant Message to Messi After Beating Son Heung-Min & LAFC

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Manuel Meza Cienfuegos | Last updated Nov 23, 2025 2:03 PM ET

Thomas Muller's Vancouver Whitecaps knocked out Son Heung-min's Los Angeles FC on Saturday in the MLS Western Conference semifinals.

The Canadian team is waiting to learn its opponent for the Conference final, which will be decided between San Diego FC and Minnesota United on Monday, Nov. 24, at Snapdragon Stadium.

On the other side of the country in the Eastern Conference, Lionel Messi's Inter Miami will compete for its Conference final berth against Cincinnati.

Logically, one of the most anticipated scenarios for this year's MLS Cup is a grand final between the Herons and the Whitecaps, as it would represent a matchup between Messi, 38, and Muller, 36.

Thomas Muller Does Not Forget His Record Against Lionel Messi Amid Potential MLS Cup Matchup

The former Bayern Munich player had an interview with MLS ahead of the Conference semifinals and sent a clear message to Messi and company.

"In an interview with my colleague, you said you wanted to hunt Messi. I think you were having a little bit of fun there. He's on the other side of the bracket right now," the interviewer said.

"I know the discussions in the fan bases, you know. Because it's a Barcelona thing, it's also two big players coming up. It's about, yeah, Miami is maybe the biggest brand in the East. The Whitecaps are the future biggest brand in the West," Muller began saying.

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"Just kidding, but I'm working on it. So for me, it was just normal to pick up a little bit of my history with Messi and the Barcelona teams. But my history with him forces me to hope for a final against Miami. So it's not my fault. Sorry. They brought me in to say that," he added.

The most remembered episode between Muller and Messi is, without a doubt, Bayern's 8-2 victory over Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League in August 2020, a match in which the German scored a brace, but the Argentine could not get on the scoresheet. Luis Suarez also played.

The Whitecaps star will try to replicate that scenario.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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