Inter Miami Tidbits 2025 MLS Cup Edition

First Time For Both

Inter Miami CF and the Vancouver Whitecaps will face off on Saturday afternoon with the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy on the line. It will be the first time either organization has reached the MLS Cup Final, and first-year head coaches will lead both clubs: Javier Mascherano for Miami and Jesper Sørensen for Vancouver.

🚨 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: According to @CLMerlo, Javier Mascherano will be the new #InterMiamiCF Head Coach.

He replaces Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino, who announced today that he will depart the Club due to personal reasons. #MLS pic.twitter.com/WBlXzbM0cQ

— Lemon City Live (@LemonCityLive) November 22, 2024

Tadeo’s Trajectory

Tadeo Allende is on a historic goal-scoring pace during the 2025 MLS postseason. Allende is currently tied with former MLS great Carlos Ruiz with eight goals and can break the record if he scores in the MLS Final tomorrow against Vancouver. His ascension has been completely unforeseen because, although he had been a solid player for the Herons, his production was inconsistent, and he often missed point-blank chances. During the playoffs, however, he has transformed into a goal-scoring machine and has looked to be in fantastic form. Allende missed Miami’s training session on Thursday morning as a precaution due to an elevated body temperature, but he was back at practice Friday morning.

Tadeo Allende with the hattie to tie the #MLS Playoffs record for goals with 8.. Bright with a beautiful through ball ⚽️ & Allende finishes with a subtle touch over the goalkeeper..5-1 final Eastern Conference Champs!!!

pic.twitter.com/8Vg9w6qLFA

— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) November 30, 2025

Messi Masterclass

Lionel Messi defies all logic and human reasoning. At age thirty-eight, the GOAT continues to perform at an exceptional level on the pitch. Lionel has the most goal contributions in an MLS calendar year with 61. He is the leading candidate to win MLS MVP, and a victory would make him the first back-to-back winner in league history. Messi claimed the Golden Boot with 29 goals and also finished as the league leader in assists with 19. To top it all off, he has broken the MLS record for postseason goal contributions, recording 7 goals and 6 assists. Lionel has also surpassed the all-time assists record, reaching 405 to date, and he could add to that total in the Final against Vancouver. The GOAT might not be done yet.

The GOAT 🐐 is exceptional… #Messi #MLS #InterMiamiCF #Lemoncitylive pic.twitter.com/Ys0EKbfcp2

— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) December 3, 2025

Last Dance For The Barca Fantastic Four

The four legendary ex-Barcelona players on Inter Miami’s roster will play their final match together as a quartet on Saturday. Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba will be retiring after the game, bringing two brilliant careers to a close. Messi’s arrival in 2023 opened the door for Busquets and Alba — and later Suárez — to join Inter Miami CF for one last opportunity to play alongside one another. Their time together in Miami has been remarkable, helping the club reach new heights both on and off the pitch. The only fitting way for these two icons of fútbol to walk off the field for the last time is with a victory against Vancouver on Saturday.