SEATTLE — This year’s parade through Lumen Field of soccer’s elite isn’t finished.

The stage for a possible showstopper is set for Sunday when the Sounders host Inter Miami in a Leagues Cup final. The tournament features clubs from Mexico’s Liga MX and MLS, but it’s an all-MLS title match for the third consecutive season.

Seattle (4-0-1) defeated the LA Galaxy in their semifinal match on Wednesday in California to advance. The Sounders last reached the Leagues Cup final in 2021 and could become the first MLS team to win every North American trophy possible.

Miami won the tournament title in 2023. The Herons received two goals from international star striker Lionel Messi to defeat Orlando City in their semifinal in Florida to advance.

Yes, that means Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and reigning World Cup champion, could play his first meaningful match against the Sounders.

The operative word is “could.”

One question coaches despise is asking for their starting lineup before it is required to be released an hour before kickoff. Messi returned from a right leg injury Wednesday, telling reporters after the match that “in the first half I was playing with a bit of fear, but after that I felt a bit more free,” as translated from Spanish.

“Having seen a lot of big events at the stadium, championships and everything,” Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said. “We’re hosting the greatest player … It’s been a great summer and I’m hoping to make it an even better summer.”

Messi, 38, has hinted that this is his last year playing. And because Sunday's game is for a trophy, there's a strong possibility he'll play. But the decision will be based on health, not Lumen Field's turf.

Messi has played the full 90 for Miami on turf three times this season. The Herons lost a CONCACAF Champions Cup match at Vancouver’s BC Place in April and Messi scored in wins on turf against Atlanta United (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) and New England (Gillette Stadium) in MLS matches.

The possibility mixed with witnessing the Sounders vie for their first championship since 2022 has heightened demand even more. The club announced Thursday that additional seating capacity was released as they attempt to break the Leagues Cup single-match attendance record of 50,675 set in July 2024 between MLS's San Jose Earthquakes and Mexico's Chivas de Guadalajara at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.

By midafternoon Thursday, swaths of the upper decks on both sides of the stadium were selling quickly and prices overall ranged from $126 all the way to $11,000 for seats on the pitch. Fans can watch the 5 p.m. match on Apple TV+.

Messi has played against the Sounders before. In 2009, Messi — then 22 years old — showed off his soccer skills atop the Space Needle before netting a brace against Seattle in a 4-0 win while playing for Spain’s FC Barcelona. The friendly drew 67,000 fans at Lumen Field.

The Argentine also competed for his country at Lumen in the 2016 Copa América Centenario.

Sunday's match continues what has been a treat for Seattle soccer fans all summer. Seattle already hosted six FIFA men’s Club World Cup matches featuring Messi’s countrymen on rosters for Italy’s Inter Milan and Argentina’s CA River Plate. A turnstile count surpassing 132,000 fans attended the matches.

The Sounders lost CWC group-stage matches against current European champion Paris Saint-Germain, South American champion Botafogo and storied Spanish side Atlético Madrid. Then in the Leagues Cup opening round, Seattle pummeled Mexico’s Cruz Azul, which won the 2025 CCC title in June.

Players credit the CWC competition for their current form. The Sounders have only lost once (9-1-4) and have scored 36 goals since their exit from the global tournament in June.

When it comes to hoisting trophies on their turf, the Sounders first accomplished that in 2010 with the U.S. Open Cup title. In 2019, a then-Lumen record 69,274 people witnessed the MLS Cup win and in 2022 for the regional crown. Seattle also won the 2014 MLS Supporters Shield and only need the Leagues Cup hardware to complete their set.

“The Club World Cup is a big part of it,” Sounders defender Alex Roldan said Wednesday. “But overall, it’s our teamwork. The way we’re built, the way we’re set up. It’s a great group of guys and we’re all in this together. We’ve all bought into our goals and objectives for the year and have given a little bit more after that Club World Cup. We’re just ridding it right now.”

Miami (4-0-1) has proved to play it’s best when Messi and his former Barcelona teammates in forward Luis Suárez, midfielder Sergio Busquets and defender Jordi Alba are in the lineup, Seattle continues to prove its roster depth rivals the Puget Sound.

Sounders midfielder Albert Rusnák could return from a hamstring injury, but all-time leading goal-scorer Jordan Morris (shoulder), gritty defender João Paulo (knee), English winger Ryan Kent (hamstring), and U.S. international midfielder Paul Arriola (knee) are out due to injuries. Key contributors in their absence — forward Danny Musovski and left back Nouhou — are also unavailable Sunday due to red card suspensions.

Yet, the only thing that’s stopped the Sounders are the teams who defend with a backline of five (Minnesota United and Mexico’s Club Puebla). Otherwise, Roldan has played multiple positions, including center back, to get the Sounders through matches and scoring has come from new additions like Osaze De Rosario and Kalani Kossa-Rienzi to young designated player Pedro de la Vega. The Argentine, who missed the bulk of his debut season last year due to injury, has three goals in Leagues Cup matches.

“We’re not going to be shy, we’re not timid,” De Rosario said of playing Messi and Miami. “We’re coming to win.”

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