Every current manager in the 2025/26 Premier League ranked

The Premier League has had some of the greatest managers football has ever seen since it’s creation in 1992. From Sir Alex Ferguson to Arsene Wenger and now Pep Guardiola, the best coaches regularly end up in England’s top flight.

Nowadays, managers don’t have as much time to make an impact, making it more important than ever that they get results quickly, regardless of the style.

All 20 Premier League managers' salaries

But who is the best and worst manager in the Premier League this season? Here is a ranked list of all 20 managers in the division right now.

Premier League managers ranked

Rank

Manager

Club

1

Pep Guardiola

Man City

2

Mikel Arteta

Arsenal

3

Enzo Maresca

Chelsea

4

Unai Emery

Aston Villa

5

Oliver Glasner

Crystal Palace

6

Andoni Iraola

Bournemouth

7

Eddie Howe

Newcastle

8

Regis Le Bris

Sunderland

9

Ruben Amorim

Man United

10

Arne Slot

Liverpool

11

David Moyes

Everton

12

Fabian Hurzeler

Brighton

13

Thomas Frank

Tottenham

14

Marco Silva

Fulham

15

Sean Dyche

Nottingham Forest

16

Nuno Espirito Santo

West Ham

17

Keith Andrews

Brentford

18

Daniel Farke

Leeds

19

Scott Parker

Burnley

20

Rob Edwards

Wolves

21

Rob Edwards

Wolves

New Wolves manager Rob Edwards faces a tough task to keep the Old Gold in the Premier League, and his only prior experience of managing in the top flight came with Luton Town.

Edwards failed to keep the Hatters in the division in 2024, losing 24 of his 38 games in charge that season.

20

Scott Parker

Burnley

Scott Parker will be looking to buck the trend and keep his newly-promoted Burnley side in the Premier League.

The Clarets boss previously suffered two relegations when in charge of Fulham and averages less than a point per game in the top flight.

19

Daniel Farke

Leeds

Another manager who has been relegated from the Premier League on two occasions is Leeds boss Daniel Farke.

He couldn’t keep Norwich City in the top flight, and like Parker, averages less than one point per game in the division.

18

Keith Andrews

Brentford

Keith Andrews is in the early stages of his senior managerial career after taking over from Thomas Frank at Brentford.

The Irishman has made a relatively positive start, beating both Liverpool and Man Utd at the Gtech Community Stadium.

17

Nuno Espirito Santo

West Ham

Nuno Espirito Santo has had some brilliant moments in the Premier League, taking both Wolves and Nottingham Forest into the Europa League.

However, the Portuguese boss has also had a failed stint at Tottenham and is now struggling to get the best out of his West Ham squad.

16

Sean Dyche

Nottingham Forest

Back in the Premier League with Nottingham Forest, Sean Dyche has plenty of experience in the top flight following previous stints with Burnley and Everton.

He did a solid job at both, even taking the Clarets into the Europa League back in 2018. His football may not be the most attractive, but Dyche gets the job done more often than not and will be looking to do just that with Nottingham Forest.

15

Marco Silva

Fulham

An experienced Premier League manager after stints with Hull City, Watford and Everton, Marco Silva has enjoyed the majority of his success in England with Fulham.

He’s managed more games at Craven Cottage than what he did with the three aforementioned clubs combined, helping make Fulham an established top flight side.

14

Thomas Frank

Tottenham

After doing a brilliant job at Brentford where he took the Bees to the Premier League and comfortably kept them in the top flight, Thomas Frank took the leap to join Tottenham in 2025.

Results early on were positive for the Dane, who has continued his flexible and adaptable approach in north London, but the Lilywhites’ home form is major cause for concern.

13

Fabian Hurzeler

Brighton

The youngest ever permanent manager in Premier League history, Brighton’s move for Fabian Hurzeler has paid off so far.

The German’s possession-based style and attacking philosophy has seen the Seagulls record some impressive wins at the Amex Stadium, and he could be the one to take the club back into European competition.

12

Luis Robert Jr. Admits He's Surprised to Still Be With White Sox on Opening Day

Luis Robert Jr. is being painfully honest about his status with the Chicago White Sox.

On Wednesday, the veteran outfielder was asked if he expected to still be with the team on Opening Day and said, "Honestly, no."

That's about as blunt as you can get.

"I know there were a lot of rumors around there. I didn't think I would be here," Robert said, per Chris Emma of 670 The Score. "But I'm glad that I'm here. … This was the organization that gave me the chance to make my dream come true."

Robert had a down season in 2024 as the White Sox turned in one of the worst seasons in MLB history. In 100 games, he slashed .224/.278/.379 with 14 home runs and 35 RBIs. He missed a considerable chunk of time due to a hip flexor strain and never seemed to get right before the campaign ended.

He's still one of the top targets on the trade market but the White Sox have yet to move him.

Newcastle launch enquiry to sign "fantastic" £15m-a-year midfield star

Newcastle United have now reportedly made their first contact to sign Ruben Neves from Al-Hilal, as they look to find a solution for their current problems under Eddie Howe.

The Magpies were in dire form before the international break and defeat at the hands of Brentford just about summed things up. For the first time in his tenure at St James’ Park, Howe is under pressure to get things right and turn things around as soon as possible, but with Manchester City up next there’s no doubt that’s easier said than done.

The manager admitted that Newcastle’s Premier League form has “not been good” at a recent charity dinner, saying: “Our Premier League form has not been good, and our away form has not been good. [But] our home form’s been strong, been good in the Champions League and we’re still in the Carabao Cup, so it’s a mixture of things.

Dream for Woltemade: Newcastle could hire "one of the best managers" in England

Eddie Howe could soon be axed at Newcastle United as this exciting name is linked to the St James’ Park dug-out.

By
Kelan Sarson

Nov 20, 2025

“It’s been difficult to pinpoint one thing but certainly, we know we have to improve the general performances. We’re looking for more consistency – we’re looking for more goals.

“We’re looking for a big response in this moment and we’re going to need them because we have got game after game. Our schedule for the next two months is relentless, so we can’t allow any sort of negative trend to continue. It’s a really important few weeks for us.”

It’s form that has arrived off the back of a fairly chaotic summer transfer window, in which Newcastle missed out on almost every top target before turning elsewhere.

Under new sporting director Ross Wilson, that simply cannot happen in January and the Magpies have already set their sights on stars such as Elliot Anderson and Neves in a midfield rebuild as a result.

Newcastle make contact to sign Neves

As reported by Caught Offside, Newcastle have now made contact to sign Neves from Al-Hilal in 2026. The midfielder has just over six months left on his current contract and will be available for just €20m (£18m) in the January transfer window.

Whilst PIF, who hold a majority stake in Al-Hilal, could be about to lose Neves in Saudi Arabia, they could use their existing relationship with the Portuguese star to bring him to Newcastle.

Unlike Al-Hilal, however, the Magpies could struggle to meet his current wage demands. As things stand, the 28-year-old earns £15m-a-year in Saudi Arabia, which would instantly make him Newcastle’s highest-earner by around £7m. It’s simply not doable unless he brings his demands down.

Putting those wage demands to one side, though, there’s little doubt that Neves would be an excellent signing. Dubbed “fantastic” by former manager Nuno Espirito Santo during his time at Wolves, Neves would ease Newcastle’s fears of struggling in the face of a potential Sandro Tonali exit and could even form an impressive partnership using the Italian.

Find a way past his salary demands and those in Tyneside should go all out to bring Neves back to the Premier League in 2026.

Newcastle hold strong interest in Elliot Anderson amid Thomas Tuchel comments

Harry Kane 'braving the cold to get 18 holes in' as Bayern Munich striker enjoys winter round of golf

It is not just professional football that Harry Kane is dedicated to, with the Bayern Munich striker "braving the cold" in order to "get 18 holes in" during a winter round of golf. The England captain can often be found on the fairways and is not ready to put his clubs away just yet, despite freezing weather descending on Europe. He is wrapping up against testing conditions.

  • World Cup-bound: Kane fired England to another tournament

    Kane has been making the most of time off towards the end of the latest international break. He has been away with England, helping to complete a faultless qualification campaign for the 2026 World Cup.

    He figured in meetings with Serbia and Albania, bagging a brace against the latter to seal a 2-0 win on the road. The Three Lions have reached another major tournament without dropping a point or conceding a goal.

    Kane will captain them – fitness permitting – at next summer’s finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico. He will get more time in the Americas to work on his golf game, with it likely that a bag of woods and irons will make the journey with him over the Atlantic.

  • Advertisement

  • Hitting the greens: Kane braves the cold

    The 32-year-old never passes up the chance to hit the greens, with golf becoming his favourite pastime. Said game presents him with an opportunity to escape the stresses of his day job.

    He has made a point of getting a few more rounds in before chilly conditions making playing impossible. Kane donned a woolly hat when breaking out his driver again. He posted on Instagram: "Winter golf. Anybody else been braving the cold to get 18 holes in?"

  • NFL or PGA Tour: Kane has not ruled out crossover

    There will be a fair few joining Kane in getting more golf in before 2025 comes to a close. Some of those may fancy their chances of taking on the England skipper, with the prolific frontman revealing that he plays off a single-figure handicap of three.

    He has not ruled out exploring a future on the PGA Tour once his playing days on the football field are over. Kane has told : "I’d still say ‘never say never’, because I don’t like to rule anything out. It takes such a lot of time and dedication, it would be really, really, really tough. I think sometimes people don’t appreciate how much work goes into it. You watch it on the TV and you see them doing it so effortlessly and you think ‘I could have a go at that’, but it’s really tough. I’d never say never, but I think it’s really unlikely that will happen."

    While being more than competent with a club in hand, Kane has never achieved the ultimate goal in golf. He does, however, intend to right that wrong at some point in the not too distant future. He told his channel back in May: "I’ve never got a hole in one. One of my lifetime goals is to join the hole in one club!"

  • ENJOYED THIS STORY?

    Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

  • Getty

    Kane record: Goal tallies for Bayern and England

    Kane has made a habit of hitting his targets down the years, with there seemingly nothing that he cannot do. He is able to drive the ball over 300 yards in golf, which will put him in position to grab the odd hole in one at some point.

    With his clean striking of a ball with his foot also being taken into account, it has been suggested that Kane could move into American football once his soccer career is over. He is a big fan of NFL and has admitted to being keen on moving into place kicking.

    For now, Kane is focused on scoring goals for Bayern and England. He has reached 108 through 113 appearances for the former, while taking his record-setting haul for the latter to 78 from 112 caps.

    Bundesliga champions Bayern, who have dropped just two points through 10 fixtures in the German top-flight this season, will be back in action on Saturday when playing host to Freiburg.

Dodgers SS Hilariously Copied Pitchers’ Windups During Relief Duty in Blowout Loss

The Los Angeles Dodgers got annihilated by the Chicago Cubs on Saturday by a score of 16-0. The loss, their seventh in the last nine games, was the franchise's most lopsided defeat in 60 years and puts them at 10-7 on the season after their high-flying 8-0 start.

In an effort to not unnecessarily exhaust his bullpen with his team already down 11 runs, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts called on shortstop Miguel Rojas to pitch the game's final two innings. The 36-year-old allowed five runs on seven hits—and also had some fun for himself while on the bump.

Over his 33 pitches thrown, Rojas hilariously mimicked his L.A. teammates' pitching deliveries, copying the windups of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Clayton Kershaw, and Roki Sasaki.

Here's a look:

That's one way to make a loss like that less painful.

Without much time to recover from the ugly defeat, L.A. will once again take on the Cubs from Dodger Stadium on Sunday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EST and will air on ESPN.

New Kane & Son: Paratici plotting to sign two mega-money forwards for Spurs

Tottenham Hotspur’s attack in 2025/26 has fallen way below the standards Thomas Frank will have expected, with the Dane previously working with numerous elite-level talents.

During his time as Brentford manager, he oversaw the likes of Ivan Toney and Bryan Mbeumo, with both players managing to register 20+ goal seasons in the Premier League.

At present, the Lilywhites don’t have a player capable of achieving such feats, with Richarlison the current top scorer on five goals from his first 12 appearances.

Investment is no doubt needed during the upcoming transfer windows to provide the manager with the ammunition he will need to take the club to the next level.

With January rapidly approaching on the horizon, the hierarchy have already wasted no time in targeting multiple players who will improve the situation within the final third.

Spurs’ hunt for added attacking signings this January

Over the last couple of weeks, Spurs have been named as just one of the Premier League sides interested in a move to land Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo.

They aren’t alone in their pursuit of the Ghanaian international, with Arsenal and Liverpool just two other clubs interested in a deal for the 25-year-old this winter.

According to TEAMtalk, the Lilywhites are willing to meet the attacker’s current £65m release clause, but it’s unclear if the player himself would be open to a move to North London.

However, he’s not the only attacker currently being lined up by the Spurs hierarchy, with Porto centre-forward Samu Aghehowa another talent the board are closely monitoring.

The Spaniard has already scored 11 times in his 18 appearances across all competitions, subsequently showcasing the impressive goalscoring nature he possesses in the final third.

The same news outlet has also confirmed that the Lilywhites are also willing to fork out a reported £80m for the 21-year-old’s signature, which could see the hierarchy splash £145m on the pair.

Why Spurs’ £102k targets would be Frank’s answer to Son & Kane

Over the last few seasons, the Spurs faithful have been massively blessed with numerous attacking talents, but none more so than Heung-min Son and Harry Kane.

The pair featured together for just shy of a decade in North London, with the duo breaking numerous long-standing records during their time alongside one another.

As a result of their success alongside each other in the Premier League, they combined between one another for a staggering 47 goals in England’s top-flight.

Such a tally is higher than any other partnership in the division’s 33-year history, highlighting the success they achieved when featuring together at the Lilywhites.

However, none of the players remain on the books in North London, with Son moving to LAFC in the recent summer window, whilst Kane joined Bayern Munich a little over two years ago.

Frank will no doubt be wishing he could rely upon such stars in the present day, but he could be about to get his own version, if the hierarchy complete deals for Semenyo and Samu this January.

The former of the duo would likely occupy the left-wing position, but did possess a huge attacking threat, as seen by his tally of nine combined goals and assists in the Premier League this season.

His underlying stats further showcase his talents in attacking areas this campaign, with the Ghanaian completing 1.9 dribbles and creating an average of 1.4 chances per 90.

Out of possession, the Cherries star has been just as impressive, subsequently making 5.3 recoveries and winning possession 0.9 times per 90 in the final third – with both ranking him in the top 15% of attackers in the league.

Antoine Semenyo – PL stats (25/26)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

11

Goals & assists

9

Take-ons completed

1.9

Chances created

1.4

Progressive passes

3.6

Passes into opposition box

1.6

Shots on target

1.3

Recoveries made

5.3

Stats via FBref

However, he could form a deadly partnership with Samu in the years to come, with the Spaniard potentially being the beneficiary of Semenyo’s quality in North London.

During his spell in Portugal with Porto, the 21-year-old has already demonstrated his clinical nature, as seen by his remarkable tally of 36 goals in his first 60 outings for the club.

This campaign alone, he’s posted a 64% shot on target accuracy rate, whilst achieving a 0.86 goal per 90 record – ranking him in the top

8% of all strikers in Europe to date.

His tally of 5.9 touches in the opposition box per 90 showcases his picker instincts, which could see him getting on the end of Semenyo’s mazy runs in North London.

The duo, who earn a combined £102k, would cost a reported £145m this January, but such a figure would be superb business for two players of their quality.

Since Kane and Son’s respective departures, the club have been lacking quality in forward areas, with various moves for Semenyo and Samu finally handing Frank the talent he’s craved since taking the reins.

Frank must drop Bentancur to unleash Spurs star who's just "like Modric"

Tottenham Hotspur face PSG looking to claim revenge for the UEFA Super Cup final.

1

By
Ethan Lamb

Nov 26, 2025

Gio Reyna challenged to 'reach that bar' with USMNT as Mauricio Pochettino expected to tell Monchengladbach star to do even MORE to make World Cup squad

Gio Reyna has been set a 2026 World Cup challenge. Former USMNT star Brad Friedel, during an exclusive interview with GOAL, has told the talented Borussia Monchengladbach playmaker what needs to happen in order to make Mauricio Pochettino’s squad for next summer’s tournament, with nobody – regardless of their ability – guaranteed a place in those plans.

  • Form & fitness challenges for Reyna

    Reyna is unquestionably one of the most naturally gifted performers at the United States’ disposal. He has been tipped for the top since bursting onto the senior scene as a teenager, with a similar career path to fellow countryman Christian Pulisic being trodden when linking up with Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund.

    Over 140 appearances were taken in for BVB, scoring 19 goals, but those numbers would have been considerably higher were it not for a string of unfortunate injuries. A fresh start is now being embraced with Gladbach – with more tests on form and fitness fronts being faced there.

  • Advertisement

  • Will Reyna make the USMNT squad for 2026 World Cup?

    Reyna did impress during his last international camp, registering goal number nine for his country in a friendly win over Paraguay, but questions continue to be asked of whether – having endured a tough time at the 2022 World Cup – he will be involved at another major tournament on home soil.

    Quizzed on whether the creative 23-year-old is in a position where a World Cup berth is his to lose, ex-USMNT goalkeeper Friedel – speaking in association with – told GOAL: “With Mauricio it is different, you have to go and impress and then you have to improve. There is no ‘you did well for me last month, you did well the month before’. That’s not how he goes about his business.

    “Once you impress, he will put a little higher bar on you and then you have to reach that bar. Then he will see if you can go again. The way that he performed, and I don’t know how he conducted himself in training, but let’s say it was positive, then they will watch him now with his club and see when he comes into camp again in March if he is lower. If so, he is already down in their minds again. If he comes in the same or higher, then he has impressed again.

    “That’s how they work. It’s the metrics, it’s building a squad of players that need to win – which is a better word than ‘want’ to win. What he has done right now is very good for him getting his foot back in the door. It’s not his to lose. Everyone goes on a level playing field, which is very different to what the US has been previously.”

    Getty Images

  • Hot prospect: How Reyna can prove his worth

    Reyna knows that he faces fierce competition for places, and that he needs to steer clear of more spells on the treatment table in order to prove his worth. Friedel has previously told GOAL of how a hot prospect makes another global gathering: “With Gio, a lot of unfortunate stuff from the last World Cup, then injury after injury after injury. Talented, talented player. For Gio, he needs minutes and he needs not to be injured. Then we can see before the World Cup if he is ready. If he is, if he has a run of four or five months with no injuries, playing lots of minutes, he’s in the squad.

    “He’s a really talented player, one of the better ones we have. But he really does need to play. When I took the job at Besiktas, I was over at the Copa America and was watching. You could just tell there was something a little bit off. It’s not his ability, that is there. That’s not it. His body has unfortunately not cooperated with this sport.

    “Hopefully for him it goes well. He’s a really good kid and I hope he just stays fit, gets a run of games and then it will be down to Mauricio choosing him or not. I don’t like to see anybody get left out because of injury.”

  • ENJOYED THIS STORY?

    Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

  • Getty Images Sport

    2026 World Cup draw: When & where does it take place?

    Excitement levels in the USMNT camp are about to build even further, with their opponents for the group stage of the 2026 World Cup set to be revealed when that draws take place at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC on December 5.

MLB Umpire Made Worst Call of the Season on a Play That Wasn’t Even Close

Being an umpire at the big league level is not the easiest of jobs in the world, we get that. But still, what happened on one horrific call in Monday night's Tampa Bay Rays-Baltimore Orioles game is something that just shouldn't happen at the professional level. Heck, this shouldn't occur at any level.

In case you missed it, Rays right fielder Josh Lowe laid down a nice bunt that was fielded by Orioles third baseman Ramon Urias. His throw to first was a bit late but that didn't stop umpire Bruce Dreckman from calling Lowe out, when he clearly beat the throw.

How do we know he got there before the ball did? Because of this screenshot:

Not great!

Here's the full play, which the Rays couldn't challenge because they were out of challenges:

The Rays would go on to win the game, 7-1, but still, that bad of a call just can't happen.

He’d revive Van Dijk: “World-class” talent wants to join Liverpool

Liverpool have a remarkable aversion to confidently defending Premier League titles. This season and in 2021/22, the Reds have found themselves on a sticky wicket after reaching the top, and Arne Slot has to find the answers quickly.

In fairness, the endless rut the club have found themselves in this season looks to have abated. Liverpool have gone four games without defeat, though it would simply be incorrect to suggest that they are back to their best.

With Mohamed Salah’s uncertain future rumbling in the background, FSG are ready to reinforce the struggling champions with a winter recruit or two.

But it might be at the back, and not in attack, that Liverpool need to prioritise.

Liverpool ready to sign a centre-back

Ibrahima Konate is out of contract at the end of the season, and there is still no resolution in sight. Real Madrid have ended their interest in the French centre-back, though, such has been the severity of his dismal season.

Errors have come by the dozen. Couple that with Konate’s weakness in the build-up, exposed by Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure, and you can see that Liverpool desperately need a new elite partner to help the ageing Virgil van Dijk.

Last summer, Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi was the chosen man, and now, sporting director Richard Hughes is ready to return for him.

According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool remain in pole position for the Three Lions star, with FSG confident that a deal can be struck, considering that personal terms have already been agreed and the player is said to still view Anfield as his preferred destination.

However, Bayern Munich are pushing, and so if the Reds want to avoid any doubts before Guehi’s contract expires at the end of the season, they must bid around £20m to bring him over next month.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

However, Liverpool’s defensive crisis suggests that that might not be the worst idea in the world.

Why Liverpool must sign Guehi in January

Guehi, 25, is one of the best centre-backs in Europe. Over four years since leaving Chelsea and joining Crystal Palace, he has established himself as “an absolute Rolls Royce of a defender” who is “world-class calibre”, as put by academy coach David Matthews.

The England star is just now coming into his own, stretching toward a widely recognised elite status. Liverpool must ensure that they secure his services before someone else does, especially since it could revive Van Dijk.

There’s no denying that the Netherlands captain has been poor this season, lacking his typical authority and imperiousness at the back.

But then Liverpool’s dysfunctional system has promoted inconsistency, and Guehi could prove the upgrade on Konate needed to rekindle Van Dijk’s flame.

The Eagles star’s ball-playing game is more expansive and dynamic than Konate’s own, and alongside the 34-year-old Van Dijk, he would help create a wider variety of passing patterns than Liverpool fans have been treated to this year.

Looking at how Guehi compares to Konate in the Premier League this season, you can see that the Englishman has more quality on the ball while also proving more combative and mobile in protecting his backline. Palace, remember, have only conceded 12 goals in the league this season, a total bettered only by Arsenal.

Premier League 24/25 – Guehi vs Konate

Stats (per 90)

Guehi

Konate

Goals scored

0.14

0.00

Assists

0.14

0.00

Touches

62.50

78.88

Pass completion (%)

85.4

89.5

Progressive passes

5.21

4.26

Shot-creating actions

1.64

0.72

Progressive carries

1.21

1.16

Ball recoveries

4.00

2.96

Tackles + interceptions

3.00

2.24

Clearances

5.14

6.86

Aerial duels won

2.86

3.96

Errors

0.07

0.22

Data via FBref

Forget all the technical frills for a second; Guehi is quite simply much more composed on the ball than his Les Bleus counterpart, who has made so many mistakes this season.

Couple that with his progressiveness and intelligence when making forward passes, Guehi could be the perfect partner for the veteran skipper, who is still one of the best centre-halves in the business but is getting on a bit and could do with a stable partner who complements his strengths and adds synergy to the wider tactical system.

Liverpool make move for £88m Semenyo upgrade who can be "Ballon d'Or level"

Liverpool may need to sign a new winger given the unsavoury Mo Salah situation.

By
Angus Sinclair

3 days ago

MLS Cup preview: Can Thomas Muller’s Vancouver Whitecaps spoil Lionel Messi and Inter Miami’s party?

Lionel Messi and Thomas Müller meet in an MLS Cup final full of storylines, from farewells to uncertainty, driving what should be a strong match this Saturday.

So, here we are: the MLS Cup final. Forget the hipster picks, ignore the insiders – this is the matchup everyone secretly wanted when the playoffs began. Miami-Vancouver (LAFC wouldn’t have been a bad shout, but still). Two elite teams, one trophy. This is what it’s all about.

In most circumstances, you’d back Miami without hesitation. This is Lionel Messi’s team, and they don’t seem capable of losing right now.

But…

Vancouver are scorching hot in their own right. They also have this guy called Thomas Muller – one of the most decorated players of all time – who just so happens to have a winning record against Messi. That’s something. And if you want another wrinkle: they’ve beaten Miami already this season.

So maybe this is a little closer than anyone’s pretending. GOAL previews the MLS Cup final ahead of what should be a terrific contest.

  • Getty Images Sport

    Key storylines

    And so we have our dream MLS Cup final. But this is about more than just the fact that Messi will be playing against his supposed kryptonite. Muller does has a good record against him, but there's plenty of other stuff to follow:

    The last dance for the Barça boys

    Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba have already announced they’ll retire after the final. This is their last professional game. Luis Suárez could join them, even if he hasn’t said so publicly. One more trophy would be quite the goodbye.

    Vancouver’s future is uncertain

    The Whitecaps confirmed before the season that they were interested in selling the team and with that has come speculation over relocation. Their lease at BC Place ends this year, and while a soccer-specific stadium has been discussed, nothing is close to done. It’s not impossible that this version of Vancouver is gone in two years. One final run? Maybe.

    First-year coaches on center stage

    Vancouver's Jesper Sørensen arrived with little name recognition. Javier Mascherano arrived with doubts after a tough first stint in management with the Argentina U23s at the Olympics. Yet both managers have guided their teams to the biggest game of the season. One of them will lift a trophy at the end.

  • Advertisement

  • Getty Images Sport

    Inter Miami and the keys to victory

    Why Inter Miami will win it

    Yes, it starts with Messi. If he catches fire, Miami are almost impossible to stop. But the key may be what happens behind him. Miami’s defense has tightened up in recent weeks. They’re still vulnerable in central areas and at right back, yet if they keep things tidy and limit Vancouver’s chances, they’ll give Messi and the attack enough platform to win it.

    Why Inter Miami won’t win it

    They can get outrun. Messi and Sergio Busquets no longer cover the ground they once did, and Vancouver bring relentless energy from the opening whistle. In a one-off final, that could matter. Miami also have a tendency to start slowly, and an early barrage from Vancouver could put them in a hole they can’t climb out of.

  • AFP

    Key player for Inter Miami

    There's no need to intellectualize this. The key player is Messi. There have been some real impressive performances around him in recent weeks, especially from Tadeo Allende, who has gotten red hot in the playoffs. But Miami live and die by their star man. It's a good thing he's on fire then, averaging well over two goal contributions per 90 minutes. If he bags a couple (he will), then Miami will have a chance – no matter their weaknesses elsewhere. 

  • ENJOYED THIS STORY?

    Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

  • Getty Images Sport

    Vancouver Whitecaps

    Why they will win it – They're a better all-around team than Miami. Muller is on fire, and he has given an already solid team an extra cutting edge. There are no real weaknesses here. They are strong in midfield, lethal up front, and good enough at the back to see out games. And perhaps more crucially, they are well-balanced. This is a team that likes to have the ball, but they also don't mind defending, either. They don't have a Messi, but they have 11 guys who can come together and nullify his best. 

    Why they won't win it – No one can stop Messi. End of. 

Game
Register
Service
Bonus