Thomas Muller

Thomas Müller (born 13 September 1989) is a German professional footballer who plays as a forward or attacking midfielder for Major League Soccer's Vancouver Whitecaps. Known as "der Raumdeuter" (the 'interpreter of space'), he is considered one of the finest players of his era, noted for his positioning, finishing, work-rate, and steady output in both scoring and creating goals. He holds the records for most goals and assists by a German in the UEFA Champions League.

Müller joined Bayern Munich's youth system at age 10 in 2000 and remained with the club until 2025. Over seventeen seasons, he made 756 appearances for Bayern—a club record—scoring 250 goals and providing 223 assists. With Bayern, he won 13 Bundesliga titles, six DFB-Pokals, eight DFL-Supercups, two UEFA Champions League titles, two UEFA Super Cups, and two FIFA Club World Cups. He is one of only three players in Bundesliga history to reach 100 goals and 100 assists in the league, alongside Andreas Möller and Marco Reus. He also holds the record for most Champions League appearances with a single club.

Müller came through the youth ranks at TSV Pähl before moving 50 kilometres to Bayern in 2000. He played for the reserve team from March 2008, scoring on his debut against SpVgg Unterhaching. In the 2008–09 season, he became a key player for the reserves in the new 3. Liga, scoring 15 times in 32 matches. He made his first-team debut under Jürgen Klinsmann on 15 August 2008 as a substitute against Hamburger SV, and scored his first Champions League goal in a 7–1 win over Sporting CP in March 2009. In February 2009, he signed his first senior contract, a two-year deal starting in 2009–10.

When Louis van Gaal became manager, Müller and Holger Badstuber became regulars in the first team. After early substitute appearances, Müller scored twice against Borussia Dortmund in September 2009 and another brace against Maccabi Haifa three days later. He was named Bundesliga Player of the Month for September and earned praise from Gerd Müller. He started almost every match after that, missing only one through suspension. In February 2010, he extended his contract through 2013. That season, he often played as a central striker, scoring a hat-trick against VfL Bochum in the penultimate league match to help secure the Bundesliga title. Bayern also won the DFB-Pokal and reached the 2010 Champions League final.

In the 2012 Champions League final, Müller scored but Bayern lost on penalties. The following season, he scored 23 goals as Bayern won a historic treble of league, cup, and Champions League. In 2019–20, he set a Bundesliga record with 21 assists (joint with Lionel Messi and Bruno Fernandes across Europe's top five leagues) and added 14 goals as Bayern won a second treble. On 1 October 2025, he became the most decorated German footballer ever with 35 trophies.

Müller debuted for Germany in 2010. At the 2010 World Cup, he scored five goals in six games, helping Germany finish third, and won the Best Young Player award and the Golden Boot as top scorer. At the 2014 World Cup, he scored five goals as Germany won the title, earning the Silver Ball as second-best player and the Silver Boot as second-top scorer, and was named to the World Cup All-Star XI and Dream Team. He retired from international football after UEFA Euro 2024.