Whitecaps drop MLS Cup to Lionel Messi's Inter Miami after stellar season: 'It hurts'

Brian White threw his boots and mouthguard on the field in seeming disbelief. His teammates held one another, shock and disappointment painted on their faces.

The Vancouver Whitecaps' fairy tale season had come to a disappointing end.

Lionel Messi's Inter Miami captured the MLS Cup on Saturday with a 3-1 victory over the Whitecaps.

"It hurts, but in the best way it could hurt," said Vancouver's marquee player Thomas Muller from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

The German legend joined the 'Caps in mid-August and falling in the Major League Soccer championship Saturday marked just his second loss with the team.

"In the end, I have the feeling we gave it away. So, we will come back stronger next season," Muller said.

"Nobody expected a season like that one year ago. Maybe it's not the right moment to talk about next year, but I still feel it that our process is not at the top. We are on our way up. We have a young group, a very young group, a very talented group and a very hungry group. You know how it is with the big losses — it gains a lot of energy for the future."

The matchup was billed as a battle between two of the league's top talents, with Argentine star Lionel Messi leading Miami and Muller co-captaining the 'Caps with Ryan Gauld.

Inter Miami defeat Vancouver Whitecaps to claim 1st-ever MLS Cup title

It was Vancouver's Edier Ocampo who opened the scoring, though, with an own goal in the eighth minute to give Miami an early 1-0 lead.

Whitecaps midfielder Ali Ahmed levelled the score in the 60th with his first goal in MLS play this year.

Rodrigo De Paul put the home side ahead again in the 70th minute and Tadeo Allende sealed the score in the 96th minute to give Miami its first MLS Cup.

The visitors outshot Miami