The MLS Cup final is shaping up to be a highly emotional event, not only crowning a champion but also serving as the last professional match for two football legends: Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. The captain of Inter Miami, Lionel Messi, expressed his desire for the team to give his former Barcelona teammates the fairytale ending they deserve.
"I hope they finish their careers with a title and in the best possible way," Messi affirmed. For the Argentine star, who joined Inter Miami in 2023 along with Busquets and Alba, this title would represent a "very beautiful memory" and "another joy" in his extensive and successful career.
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner emphasized that this would be something very special. Despite his desire for victory, Messi anticipated an extremely complicated final. The challenge is magnified by the fact that the Vancouver Whitecaps had already eliminated the Florida team earlier this year in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Furthermore, the Canadian side has been strengthened by the August addition of Bayern Munich legend and 2014 world champion Thomas Müller.
"They actually eliminated us," Messi recalled. "The arrival of Müller makes that team much better."
Messi also noted a notable evolution in the football culture of the region. "There has been a significant growth and change in the number of football fans who enjoy the spectacle and are also passionate. They have a great passion for their teams, where football is above all else," he highlighted.
Regarding the FIFA World Cup 2026, to be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, the 38-year-old Messi was optimistic about the organizational capabilities of the U.S.: "Both I and the people, I believe, are expecting something extraordinary because [in the United States] they are used to hosting major events, and this is the most important event in football... I think they will live up to it so that people can come and enjoy everything."
