Story bySteven GoffContributing writerFri, December 5, 2025 at 2:01 AM UTC·5 min readIt’s not something Major League Soccer would ever say out loud, of course, but it’s more than fair to believe Don Garber & Co. are ecstatic about the MLS Cup matchup Saturday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It is, unquestionably, as close to a dream scenario as the longtime commissioner, his growing league and MLS’ broadcast partners could have ever concocted.“A perfect final, in my opinion,” Vancouver Whitecaps star Thomas Müller said. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“It will be a very, very special final,” Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi said. It begins with Messi, the sport’s brightest star of this era and perhaps ever, leading Inter Miami into the final for the first time since his celebrated arrival in South Florida 2½ years ago.