Mueller dismisses history with Messi before MLS final showdown
Thomas Mueller insists that his previous successes against Lionel Messi will hold no weight when he faces Inter Miami with the Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS Cup final this Saturday.
The experienced German forward, who moved to Vancouver from Bayern Munich in August, boasts a strong record versus Messi across club and international fixtures.
However, the engaging 36 year old believes those prior outcomes, where he emerged victorious in seven of ten encounters with Messi, will play no role in the upcoming Major League Soccer highlight in Florida.
"Reflecting on the past makes me feel at ease, as those moments are already recorded, and I gained plenty of positive experiences in those matches with my squads, so it was enjoyable," Mueller commented, referencing triumphs such as Germany's 1-0 defeat of Argentina in the 2014 World Cup final.
"Yet for Saturday, it is irrelevant, since this is a fresh challenge," Mueller continued.
"It might just boost the sense that I carry the assurance to overcome an opponent, either collectively or personally. Thus, I do not rely heavily on my background for that self belief."
Mueller further minimised the importance of Vancouver's control over Messi and Miami in the CONCACAF Champions Cup semi finals this year, where the Whitecaps triumphed 5-1 on aggregate with wins both at home and away.
"They beat Inter Miami twice this season. But what significance does that carry?," Mueller remarked.
"It offers a slight sense of optimism. Ultimately, though, the result will be determined on the field this Saturday, looking forward.
"It is a pleasant topic for discussion, and I am hopeful we can keep discussing it post match on Saturday."
Besides the 2014 World Cup final, Mueller's victories against Messi encompass Bayern Munich's 8-2 thrashing of Barcelona in the 2020 Champions League quarter finals, during which he netted twice and earned man of the match honours.
Additionally, he featured in Bayern's 2-0 Champions League second leg success against Paris Saint-Germain in 2023, marking Messi's final outing in European football.