Messi bests Muller, leads Inter Miami to first MLS Cup title

Fort Lauderdale: Thomas Müller has often enjoyed the upper hand in his longtime rivalry with Lionel Messi.

The German star has come out on top in seven of 10 head-to-head matchups between the two, and his teams have twice eliminated Messi and Argentina in the World Cup.

But on Saturday, in the latest marquee showdown between the two stars, it was Messi’s turn.

The Argentine super star capped his third Major League Soccer season with the 47th trophy of his career, guiding Inter Miami to a 3-1 win over Müller’s Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS Cup final.

“Three years ago, I decided to come to MLS, and today we are MLS champions,” Messi said in a quote distributed by MLS. “We reached the semifinals of the (CONCACAF) Champions Cup. Last year we went out early in the league and were eliminated in the first round. This year, winning MLS was one of our main objectives.”

Messi set up the go-ahead goal — a feed to Rodrigo De Paul in the 72nd minute — then added another assist in stoppage time to deliver Inter Miami its first championship in franchise history.

“The team made a huge effort — it was a very long year, with many matches — and we were up to the task all season,” Messi said.agencies