MLS final in sight
Müller celebrates the Vancouver triumph with a bizarre gesture
12/01/2025 – 3:16 a.mReading time: 2 minutes
Thomas Müller reached the MLS final with Vancouver. After the semi-final victory, he celebrated exuberantly – with a strange action on the lawn.
Eleven years after the World Cup final in Rio de Janeiro, Thomas Müller and Lionel Messi will face each other again in a final. With a 3-1 win against San Diego FC, the Bayern legend’s Vancouver Whitecaps advanced to the MLS Cup final. Inter Miami is waiting there next weekend.
For the 36-year-old Müller, it is confirmation of his decision to continue his career in North America after 25 years at FC Bayern. “I understand more and more that I want to continue to enjoy being on the football field in these moments. It’s just fun,” he said after the game in San Diego.
Müller quickly ticked off the trophy for winning the Western Conference: “It’s not about accepting any trophy for the Western Conference, but rather we want to get the really big thing.” It would be his 36th title in an illustrious career.
The former national player played in the semi-finals despite physical problems and was substituted after 61 minutes when the score was 3-0. The goals were scored by teammates – Brian White scored twice. His use was uncertain until shortly before the start of the game. “Today it was a bit on a knife’s edge before the game,” admitted Müller. But he sees “no major difficulties” for the final.
The Whitecaps dominated the game early on and were already leading 2-0 after ten minutes. “He’s like a coach on the pitch,” said double goalscorer White, praising the Champions League winner, who wears number 13 in Vancouver, as he once did for the national team.
After the victory, Müller let his emotions run wild. Together with teammate Ryan Gauld, he celebrated exuberantly on the lawn – forehead to forehead, the two imitated a cockfight. Müller commented on the scene on Instagram as “the special version of the Scottish kiss”.
The final in Miami is a first for both clubs. “This is the greatest success in the club’s history for the Whitecaps. And we should enjoy that too,” said Müller. “But the boys are already so excited for next week.”
The duel with Messi has special meaning for Müller: It is only the second final meeting since Germany won the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Müller won seven of eight competitive games against the Argentine. He is aware of the additional attention from the two big names: “Even though I of course know that the teams are playing against each other, it certainly pushes the attention even more.”
Müller doesn’t expect a defensive spectacle. Miami plays good offensive football, and Vancouver isn’t the kind of team that takes a backseat either. “This could even be an interesting final in terms of the style of play,” he said. His tip to the European fans: “So set an alarm clock in Europe.” The final will take place on Sunday night at 3 a.m. CET.