German soccer legend and Bayern Munich star Thomas Muller has never hesitated when it comes to naming the greatest player in the history of the sport.
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Updated on December 22, 2024 04:18PM EDT
Thomas Muller is synonymous with goals, glory for Bayern Munich, and success on the international stage, including a 2014 FIFA World Cup title with Germany. Now 35 and playing a more supporting role at Allianz Arena, the iconic No. 25 is nearing the twilight of a career that has seen him face off against some of the greatest players of this century—and of all time.
In a 2023 interview with DAZN, Müller didn’t shy away from the age-old debate between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Having both triumphed and suffered defeats against the two legends, the Bayern star gave a definitive answer.
“Who’s the GOAT? For me, it’s Messi because he makes you say, ‘I’m going to the stadium to see his elegance,’ and at the same time, he’s incredibly effective in scoring goals and achieving records and titles. Cristiano is also a strong candidate in two categories: statistics and titles, but Messi is simply more subtle and elegant,” Muller said.
The German forward acknowledged Ronaldo’s status as a formidable opponent, particularly during his Real Madrid days. However, Muller admitted that Messi, while an incredible player, often came up short against his teams. “Against Messi, the results have usually gone in our favor. At the club level, our biggest problem was Cristiano Ronaldo in his Real Madrid days,” Müller explained.
Thomas Muller from Bayern Munich tries to take the ball away from Lionel Messi of Barcelona during a UEFA Champions League game. (IMAGO / DeFodi)
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Muller also shared his insights on defending against Messi, emphasizing the need for a collective effort. “In my experience, Messi can only be defended by the team,” the Bayern forward said.
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“If he gets past the first defender, the second has to stop him,” Müller added. “If not, then the third steps in, while the first and second recover their positions to try again. You can’t defend him with just one person.”