Two years after exploding onto the U.S. soccer scene by carrying Inter Miami to the 2023 Leagues Cup title in his first competition with the club, Lionel Messi will attempt to repeat the feat as the Herons travel to meet the Seattle Sounders in the 2025 title match.
Messi has a completely new supporting cast than he did for that jaunt two years ago, now with friends Sergio Busquets, Rodrigo De Paul, and Luis Suarez along for the ride.
They will take on a team coached by long-time Sounders boss Brian Schmetzer, who is a veteran of these scenarios. He won a historic CONCACAF Champions Cup title in 2022, lifting the trophy in a competition traditionally dominated by Liga MX clubs, and has won two MLS Cup titles in his time at the helm.
Schmetzer is still, however, searching for his first Leagues Cup trophy, having reached the final in 2021 in a fledgling iteration of the competition that featured just eight clubs.
Both teams have qualified for next year's CONCACAF Champions Cup with their presence in this match, but victory would come with the additional boost of a first-round bye in the 2026 tournament.
The Sporting News runs through the latest team news and injury updates for both sides.
FOLLOW LIVE: Minute-by-minute updates of the 2025 Leagues Cup final between Seattle Sounders and Inter Miami
Seattle Sounders vs. Inter Miami lineups: Starting XI, team news, injuries
The Sounders will have to figure out how to defend Messi, as regular left-back Nouhou is suspended for his late red card in the semifinal win over LA Galaxy. It means that 20-year-old Reed Baker-Whiting comes in to take over, which would be a gamble against the greatest player ever.
Schmetzer has been forced to work around a number of injuries to important players this season. Seattle are without the likes of Jordan Morris, Albert Rusnak, Paul Arriola, and Joao Paulo due to varying fitness concerns.
USMNT forward Jesus Ferreira joined Seattle this past offseason and has had a muted first season at Lumen Field. Christian Roldan has been one of the best midfielders in MLS in 2025 and will hope to carry the side, with his brother Alex Roldan starting out wide at right-back, unless he's called over to the left to help cover against Messi.
Seattle Sounders starting XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Thomas (GK) — A. Roldan, Gomez, Ragen, Baker-Whiting — Vargas, C. Roldan — Rothrock, Ferreira, De la Vega — De Rosario.
Seattle Sounders subs: Frei (GK), Castro, Kim, Baker, Sousa, Kossa-Rienzi, Brunell, Leyva, Minoungou, Rusnak.
Injured: Arriola (ACL), Rusnak (hamstring), Paulo (knee), Morris (shoulder)
Suspended: Nouhou (red card)
MORE: All the latest Lionel Messi news
Inter Miami are largely at full strength now that Lionel Messi is back from his repeated hamstring issues.
Javier Mascherano will return to the touchline after his one-game ban for a red card in the quarterfinals. He has stuck with Ian Fray at right-back who also started the semifinals in place of previous regular Marcelo Weigandt.
He also used Rodrigo De Paul in a wide midfield role, but he seemed to be ineffective while playing out on the right and could be brought back into a more central position.
Inter Miami starting XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Ustari (GK) — Fray, Lujan, Falcon, Alba — Bright, Busquets — De Paul, Messi, Allende — Suarez.
Inter Miami subs: Rios Novo (GK), Yarbrough (GK), Weigandt, Sailor, Aviles, Allen, Ruiz, Cremaschi, B. Rodriguez, Segovia, Morales, Picault.
Injured: None
Suspended: None
2025 Leagues Cup final match details
- Date: Sunday, August 31, 2025
- Kickoff Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
- Location: Lumen Field (Seattle, WA)
- Last meeting: Seattle Sounders 0-1 Inter Miami (Apr. 16, 2022 | MLS)