Thomas Muller's Vancouver Whitecaps are already in Miami to face Leo Messi's Inter Miami in the MLS final. The winner of the MLS Cup will be decided this Saturday at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale

The Miami team reached this MLS final after thrashing New York City FC 5-1 in the Eastern Conference final. The Canadian club, meanwhile, booked its ticket to the biggest night in US and Canadian soccer after defeating San Diego FC 3-1 in the Western final.

Now we have a thrilling final between two old acquaintances: Lionel Messi and Thomas Muller. The German has handed the Argentine star two of the toughest defeats of his career: losing the 2014 World Cup final by the narrowest of margins and the 8-2 thrashing of Bayern Munich to Barcelona in the quarter-finals of the 2019-20 Champions League.

Müller flirts with the 'trophy curse'

The legendary German player was part of the press conference prior to the MLS Cup, where the MLS trophy was present. Muller could not resist the urge to see the Cup up close, but did not dare to put a finger on it.

The 'trophy curse' refers to the well-known curse of players who touch the trophy before the final and then lose it. You can't touch the cup until you win it on the pitch.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Zidane and Gattuso among the victims

One of the most recent to receive this lesson was Cristiano Ronaldo with Al-Nassr. CR7 dared to touch the Saudi Arabian Super Cup before the final began and his team ended up being thrashed 4-1 by Al-Hilal.

Other notable players who touched the trophy and then lost the final include Zinedine Zidane in the 2006 World Cup, Gennaro Gattuso in the 2005 Champions League, Iker Muniain in the 2021 Copa del Rey and Anatoliy Tymoschuk in the 2012 Champions League.