But White and Berhalter aren't alone. Ecuadorian midfielder Pedro Vite is turning into one of the best players plying their trade in North America. And young Colombian defender Edier Ocampo? He made Miami and Barcelona legend Jordi Alba look utterly spent in both ties of this semifinal fixture. As for Miami? This semifinal loss can only really be registered as a massive failure. This club is built to win trophies, but it's taken home just two of the nine it's been eligible for since Lionel Messi arrived in the summer of 2023. And to that point, while Messi remains a breathtaking talent, we do him no favors by putting him on a pedestal every time he takes the field. There's no getting around it: Messi was poor in both Champions Cup games against the Whitecaps. His first touch of this game was a turnover and things didn't improve for him from there. Both Vancouver and Miami will return to MLS action on Saturday. Vancouver will take on Real Salt Lake; Miami will host the New York Red Bulls. From there, though, their paths will differ. Miami will lick its wounds and await this summer's Club World Cup while Vancouver moves on to the biggest stage in North American soccer. If it wins the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup, it'll become just the fourth MLS team — and the first Canadian team — to lift the trophy since the tournament's founding in 1962. Elbows out!