Müller>Messi? Well, the Vancouver Whitecaps star has one case for it
Lionel Messi is considered to be the best soccer player of all time.
So, how is it that he’s not even the best player in the MLS?
Jokes aside, the MLS season did conclude with Vancouver Whitecaps star Thomas Müller besting Messi in one key area.
The Argentinian soccer star scored more goals per 90 than any player in the league… except for Müller.
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Müller finished his season with seven goals for the Whitecaps in just 541 minutes played. That left him as the league-leader in goals scored per 90.
Of course, there’s a short sample size at play here. After signing with the Whitecaps in August, Müller didn’t make his debut until the ‘Caps 25th contest of the 34-game season. He also missed two of their MLS regular-season games due to injury and played just seven games total.
Messi, meanwhile, played in 28 of 34 games for Inter Miami, registering 29 goals overall.
Both Miami and Vancouver finished as top-five teams in the league this season. Messi helped Inter Miami finish third overall, and they led the league by a wide margin with 81 goals scored. The next closest team, Chicago Fire FC, scored 66.
The Whitecaps ranked third overall in the goal-scoring department, registering 65 goals this season. However, they were on a 79-goal pace after Müller joined the team in August. Vancouver finished fifth overall in the final MLS standings and second in the Western Conference.
It would only be fitting now if Messi and Müller could face each other in the MLS Cup Finals.
Both teams exited in the first round last season in very different scenarios. The Whitecaps made the playoffs as a Wild Card team before they were defeated by the eventual champions, Los Angeles FC.
Inter Miami won the Supporters’ Shield as the best team in the MLS regular season, but they were upset by Atlanta United FC in Round One of the playoffs.
Vancouver’s 2025 playoff journey begins on Sunday, Oct. 26.