Thomas Muller Opens Up About His Epic Battle with Lionel Messi Following Crushing MLS Cup Loss

Vancouver Whitecaps star Thomas Müller has clarified that he maintains no personal connection with Inter Miami icon Lionel Messi, stating that claims of animosity between them prior to their teams' MLS Cup final clash were greatly exaggerated.

The recent encounter between Müller and Messi's illustrious careers unfolded in Major League Soccer's premier match this month, with Messi emerging victorious as Inter Miami secured a 3–1 triumph to claim the championship trophy.

The win was portrayed as Messi's moment of retribution, given his history of losses against Müller during his time with Barcelona and while representing Argentina internationally.

However, Müller emphasized that neither he nor Messi harbored any personal animosity, maintaining they have always been nothing more than courteous adversaries throughout their encounters.

"Our acquaintance is quite limited," Müller shared with Süddeutsche Zeitung. "We're professional colleagues, but things have never turned personal between us or escalated into some major feud.

"I've been on squads that faced teams where Messi held far greater influence than I did for mine. Still, I've managed to get under his skin occasionally! Since I contributed to several goals that affected him.

"There's definitely mutual admiration between us. From where I stand, that's obvious. He's extraordinary, one-of-a-kind, and in my opinion, simply the greatest!"

Müller: Messi Surpasses Cristiano Ronaldo

Following Müller's effusive compliments about Messi, the ex-Bayern Munich player was asked whether he therefore ranks the Argentine above Cristiano Ronaldo.

"Messi merges statistics, achievements, and goal-focused play with pure artistry," Müller elaborated. "You simply won't discover that combination elsewhere to such a degree. Messi is capable of virtually everything. He's even effective in the air!"

Müller viewed his comments as further evidence of the mutual admiration between them, dismissing how Vancouver's MLS Cup final against Miami was marketed as Müller vs. Messi.

"The entire match was sensationalized by journalists, turning it into a Messi versus Müller showdown," he added. "My focus was entirely on winning the MLS Cup. I'm unsure how much he considered the personal angle.

"From my perspective, our interaction felt completely respectful. We had never previously met as team captains at midfield.
Our most significant shared moments are now behind us; the most recent was in Barcelona back in 2020."