FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla – For most teams, the prospect of losing your star player and club captain to a long-term injury at the start of the year would be devastating.

Not Vancouver Whitecaps FC .

It’s a testament to their team-first approach, the willingness of squad players to step up and the genius of first-year head coach Jesper Sørensen.

But defeating Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF ’s star-studded roster in the biggest game of the club’s existence? Well, the Whitecaps will want all the help they can get. And they’ll have exactly that, with club icon Ryan Gauld back to full fitness and prepared to battle for the opportunity to win MLS Cup 2025 presented by Audi on Saturday (2:30 pm ET | MLS Season Pass, Apple TV ; FOX, FOX Deportes; TSN, RDS).

“First and foremost, I'm just

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