A product ofBayern Munich'syouth system, which he joined at age 10 in 2000, Müller represented the club until 2025. With Bayern, he won a record thirteenBundesliga titles, sixDFB-Pokals, eightDFL-Supercups, two Champions League titles, twoUEFA Super Cups, and twoFIFA Club World Cups. He joined the first team in the2009–10 season afterLouis van Gaal was appointed as the main coach; he played almost every game that season as Bayern won theleague andcupdouble and reached the2010 Champions League final. Müller scored in the2012 Champions League final though Bayern lost the final on penalties. Müller scored 23 goals in the2012–13 season as Bayern won a historictreble; the league title, cup andChampions League. In2019–20, he broke the Bundesliga record for assists in a season with 21 (a joint record in the top five leagues alongsideLionel Messi inLa Liga) and scored 14 goals as Bayern won a second treble. With 756 matches played across seventeen seasons, Müller isBayern's all-time record appearance holder, scoring 250 goals and providing 223 assists for the club across all competitions, and one of only three players in league history to reach the landmark of 100 Bundesliga goals and 100 assists each (alongsideAndreas Möller andMarco Reus). He also holds the record for the most UEFA Champions League appearances with one team.
Müller was called up to theGermany national team in 2010. At the2010 FIFA World Cup, he scored five goals in six appearances as Germany finished inthird place. He was named theBest Young Player of the tournament and won theGolden Boot as the tournament's top scorer. At the2014 FIFA World Cup, he played a major role in helping the team win the trophy, as he scored five goals and received theSilver Ball as the tournament's second best player and theSilver Boot as the second top goalscorer. He was also named in theWorld Cup All-Star XI and in theDream Team. He retired from international football after theUEFA Euro 2024. On 1 October 2025, Müller became the most decorated German footballer in history with 35 trophies.[12][13]
Müller played as a youth for TSV Pähl, and at the age of 10[14] he made the 50-kilometre (31 mi) journey to join localBundesliga side Bayern Munich in 2000.[15] He progressed through theyouth system and was part of the team that finished runner-up in theUnder 19 Bundesliga in 2007.[16] Growing up, his favorite player wasGiovane Élber.[17]
Müller made his debut for thereserve team in March 2008 when he replacedStephan Fürstner in aRegionalliga match againstSpVgg Unterhaching,[18] in which he scored. He made two more Regionalliga appearances in the 2007–08 season,[19] while continuing to play for the under-19 team. The following season, Bayern's second string qualified for the newly formed3. Liga, and Müller established himself as a key player – he played in 32 out of 38 matches[20] and scored 15 times[21] to make him the league's fifth top scorer.[22]
Müller became involved in the first-team under then managerJürgen Klinsmann; he appeared in pre-season friendlies,[23][24] and made his full debut on 15 August 2008, when he came on as a substitute forMiroslav Klose for the last ten minutes of a Bundesliga match againstHamburger SV.[25] Despite Müller feeling that his performance did not go well,[26] he made three more Bundesliga appearances that season[20] and made hisChampions League debut on 10 March 2009 when he was substituted on in the 72nd minute forBastian Schweinsteiger in a 7–1 win overSporting CP. He scored Bayern's last goal as they won the tie 12–1 onaggregate.[27]
In February 2009, Müller signed his first contract for the senior team, a two-year deal effective from the2009–10 season, along with reserve teammateHolger Badstuber.[28]
Müller was prepared to be loaned or even transferred away to find first-team football,[26] but whenLouis van Gaal was appointed manager, both Müller and Badstuber became fixtures in the Bayern first team from the start of the season.[29] In the first few matches, Müller was a regular substitute, and on 12 September 2009, he was brought on againstBorussia Dortmund and scored two goals in a 5–1 victory.[30] Three days later, he scored anotherbrace in a 3–0Champions League victory overMaccabi Haifa.[31] He rounded off September by being named the Bundesliga Player of the Month[32] and earned praise from his namesake, legendary former Bayern andGermany strikerGerd Müller.[33] After the Haifa match, Müller was in the starting XI for almost every match,[34] only missing one match, a Champions League match againstBordeaux, for which he was suspended,[35] because he was sent off in an earlier match against the same team.[36]
In February 2010, Müller signed a new contract with Bayern Munich through 2013.[37] During the second half of the season, Müller continued to be a regular first-team starter,[29] usually playing in a central striking role due to the availability of otherwide playersFranck Ribéry andArjen Robben. In April 2010, he scored the second goal in a 2–1 win against title rivalsSchalke 04,[38] and in the penultimate league match of the season, he scored the firsthat-trick of his career,[39] in a 3–1 win overVfL Bochum which effectively secured theGerman title for Bayern.[40] The title was confirmed a week later with a 3–1 win atHertha BSC,[41][42] a match which Müller started.[43]
For the season, Müller played in all 34 Bundesliga matches,[44] starting 29, and recorded 13 goals and 11assists.[29] Bayern and Müller were back inBerlin the following week, to faceWerder Bremen in thefinal of theDFB-Pokal. He started the match and Bayern won 4–0 to complete the domesticdouble.[45] Müller scored four goals and made two assists during the competition, which made him its leading scorer forthe season.[46] Bayern's season ended in pursuit of a firsttreble, in the2010 Champions League Final againstInter Milan atSantiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid. It was not to be, however, as they lost 2–0, with both goals coming fromDiego Milito. Müller was in the starting line-up and had a key chance just after half-time, with Bayern 1–0 down, but his shot was saved byJúlio César.[47] Müller felt particularly disappointed by this defeat,[26] but he ended his first season as a first-team player with 52 matches played and 19 goals in all competitions.[29]
In a poll conducted by the sports magazinekicker, he was voted by his fellow professionals as the best newcomer of the 2009–10 season[48] and was named in the BundesligaTeam of the Season.[49] Müller credits Van Gaal for having had the biggest part to play in his rise to success – the coach arrived with a reputation for promoting youth team players, particularly atAjax, and consistently gave Müller his chance in the first-team, going as far to say "Müller spielt bei mir immer" ("with me, Müller will always play").[50] Müller, in return, described Van Gaal as "a genius technician" who makes players "improve every time".[26]
Müller with Bayern Munich in Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 2011
Müller returned from his post-World Cup break to sign another contract extension, this time extending his stay at Bayern until 2015.[51] As with all of Bayern's World Cup participants, he missed much ofpre-season,[52] and his first match back was theSupercup against Schalke 04 on 7 August.[53] He was named in the starting 11, and scored the opening goal in a 2–0 win.[54] Two weeks later he scored the opening goal of Bayern'sleague season in a 2–1 home win againstVfL Wolfsburg.[55]
Müller played in every match of the first half of the season, usually as a starter,[56] but as the team struggled for results, Müller was unable to match the previous season's goalscoring exploits,[56] being dropped to the bench,[50] and even receiving a telling off from Louis van Gaal after missing an easy chance in a 2–0 defeat against1. FC Kaiserslautern in August.[26][57] He was philosophical about this dip in form, though,[58] and after eight league games without a goal, he scored in a 4–1 win againstEintracht Frankfurt on 27 November;[59] He followed that by scoring in consecutive league and cup wins againstVfB Stuttgart three weeks later.[60][61] These goals took his tally to eight goals in all competitions[56] and included a spectacular goal to open the scoring in a 2–0 Champions League victory againstRoma on 15 September.[26][62]
As his team was on its winter break, Müller was left to reflect on what he described as "an almost unbelievable first year as a pro".[58] Müller began the second half of the season in good form, but was involved in an altercation with teammate Arjen Robben, who was angered when Müller showed his displeasure at a poor free-kick Robben took during a 3–1 win at Werder Bremen.[63] Müller again played in every game of the season[64] and scored 19 goals (12 in the league),[65] but the season was less successful for Bayern, as they finished third in the league,[66] and were knocked out of the DFB-Pokal in the semi-finals by Schalke 04[67] and in theround of 16 of the UEFA Champions League by Inter Milan; Bayern had won 1–0 at theSan Siro, and Müller scored 31 minutes into the second leg to make it 3–1 on aggregate, but Inter levelled the score at 3–3 in the 88th minute to go through on theaway goals rule.[68] Müller's mentor Van Gaal was increasingly criticised for inflexibility in tactical, transfer and selection policy,[69] and ultimately lost his job, being replaced withJupp Heynckes.[70]
In Bayern's firstDFB-Pokal game Müller was awarded the man of the match after earning two penalties which were converted byMario Gómez and Bastian Schweinsteiger, Müller then added a third in the closing stages to secure a 3–0 victory overEintracht Braunschweig.[71] It took Müller five matches for him to get his first league goal; he scored it against Schalke 04 in Bayern's 2–0 win. Müller then scored in Bayern's next home game in the early stages of the match, which they went on to win, 3–0. On 26 November 2011, Müller netted the opener on the half-hour in Bayern's 6–0 thrashing ofFC Ingolstadt, giving him his second DFB-Pokal goal.[72] Müller was on the short-list of this year'sFIFA Ballon d'Or award.[73] On 10 and 15 January, in Bayern's warm up friendlies, Müller scored three goals in two games, a brace against theIndia national team (which Bayern then went on to win 4–0)[74] and one goal in Bayern's other 4–0 victory overRot-Weiß Erfurt.[75] Müller provided two assists in Bayern's win over VfB Stuttgart in the DFB-Pokal.[citation needed]
On 11 February, Bayern played 1. FC Kaiserslautern and Müller ended a goal drought lasting since 24 September 2011 with a header in their 2–0 victory.[76] On 31 March 2012, Müller played his 100th Bundesliga game against1. FC Nürnberg.[77][78] On 19 May 2012, Müller scored the opening goal in the 83rd minute of theChampions League final againstChelsea with a powerful header, before being substituted for defenderDaniel Van Buyten moments later. Bayern, however, then conceded a late equaliser, and would go on to lose the final on penalties. Müller stated post match how dissatisfied he was about the amount of time he had spent on the bench recently,[79] although also expressed his desire to stay at Bayern in spite of this.[79] During the season, Müller had scored seven goals in 34 league matches, two goals in five German Cup matches, and two goals in 14 Champions League matches.[80]
Müller's firstBundesliga goal of the season came over2. Bundesliga championsSpVgg Greuther Fürth in Bayern's 3–0 victory on 27 August 2012.[81] On 2 September, he netted a brace as Bayern thrashed southern rivals VfB Stuttgart, 6–1, in front of 71,000 at the newly expandedAllianz Arena.[82][83] Müller helped Bayern achieve a record-breaking start to the league season, when he netted a brace over newly promotedFortuna Düsseldorf on 20 October in their 5–0 victory, recording Bayern's eighth successive win.[84] Three days later, he scored his firstChampions League goal of the season, netting from the penalty spot, as Bayern defeatedLille 1–0 at the French side's newly builtGrand Stade Lille Métropole.[85]
On 13 December, after his good run of form in the first half of the Bundesliga season, Müller pledged his allegiance claiming he was at home in Munich and that, "There is no club to step up from when you leave FC Bayern... there almost is no better club."[86] Six days later, he signed a two-year contract extension, keeping him at the Allianz Arena until 2017.[87] At the winter break in the Bundesliga, he had nine goals and seven assists in 16 league appearances and a further three goals in the Champions League;[86] this gave him a total of 13 goals halfway through the season, including his strike against Borussia Dortmund in Bayern's win in the2012 DFL-Supercup. Müller scored his first goal in Bayern's second game back from the break in a 2–0 away win over VfB Stuttgart. Müller tapped in his fifth goal of the Champions League campaign on 2 April, completing a 2–0 first leg defeat ofJuventus in the quarter-finals, ending the Italian club's 18-match unbeaten record in Europe.[88]
On 23 April 2013, Müller scored two goals and gave an assist in a 4–0 win againstBarcelona in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals at the Allianz Arena.[89] In the return fixture at theCamp Nou, Müller scored a header as Bayern won 3–0 to hand Barcelona their biggest ever aggregate defeat in the Champions League, with a 7–0 scoreline across the two matches.[90] Müller then went on to play an important role in Bayern's 2–1 victory over Borussia Dortmund in thefinal. On 1 June, Müller scored a penalty in the final of the2012–13 DFB-Pokal as Bayern won the cup 3–2 againstVFB Stuttgart to complete a historic treble. Müller scored 23 goals during the season across all competitions, netting 13 in the Bundesliga,[91] one in the Pokal,[91] and an impressive eight in the Champions League,[91] he also scored one goal in the 2012 DFL-Supercup as Bayern won the match 2–1.[92]
Müller began the2013–14 season under new manager Pep Guardiola by playing in the German Super Cup.[93] On 5 August, Müller scored a hat-trick as Bayern won 5–0 in the team's2013–14 DFB-Pokal first-round game againstSchwarz-Weiß Rehden. In Bayern's opening2013–14 Bundesliga fixture, Müller missed a penalty for the first time. Seconds later, the save from the penalty flicked the hand ofÁlvaro Domínguez which resulted in another penalty whichDavid Alaba converted. After this, Müller stated, "I am still happy to take penalties, but I think David Alaba is the main man for spot kicks for now." He played in theUEFA Super Cup.[94]
On 25 September, againstHannover 96 in the second round of the DFB-Pokal, Müller scored twice taking his cup tally to five goals in just two games. On 28 September, Müller scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory over VfL Wolfsburg, giving him his first goal in the 2013–14 Bundesliga. Müller scored his first2013–14 UEFA Champions League goal of the campaign and Bayern defeatedManchester City 3–1 at theCity of Manchester Stadium on 2 October.[95] He later played in theFIFA Club World Cup final which ended in a 2–0 win overRaja Casablanca.[96][97]
On 9 April, Müller scored Bayern's second goal in a 3–1 second leg defeat ofManchester United in the Champions League quarter-finals. On 17 May 2014, He scored Bayern's second goal in a 2–0 extra-time defeat of Borussia Dortmund in the2014 DFB-Pokal Final, givingdie Roten the tenth league and cup double in their history.[98] Müller finished as the tournament's top scorer with eight goals in five appearances.[99] He finished the season by scoring 13 goals in 31 league matches, eight goals in five DFB-Pokal matches, and five goals in 12 Champions League matches.[100]
After the 2013–14 season, Müller signed a new contract keeping him at Bayern until 2019[101] and rejected a contract offer fromManchester United.[14][102] Müller played in theDFL-Supercup,[103] which was Bayern's first match in the2014–15 season. Bayern lost the match 2–0.[103] His first goal of the season was againstPreußen Münster in theDFB-Pokal on 17 August 2014.[104] Then in the opening match of the Bundesliga,[105] on 22 August 2014,[106] Müller scored the opening goal of Bayern's Bundesliga season against VfL Wolfsburg.[107] Bayern went on to win the match 2–1.[106]
On 11 March 2015, Müller scored two goals againstShakhtar Donetsk in a 7–0 win[108] to draw level with former teammate Mario Gómez as the top-scoring German player in UEFA Champions League history.[109] He subsequently became the leader when he scored in a 6–1 win against Porto on 21 April 2015.[110] He finished the season with 13 goals in 32 league matches, a goal in five DFB-Pokal matches, and seven goals in ten Champions League matches.[111]
Müller started the season by playing in theDFL-Supercup against VfL Wolfsburg.[112] He started theleague season with two goals against Hamburger SV,[113] a goal against1899 Hoffenheim,[114] two goals againstBayer Leverkusen,[115] and a goal againstFC Augsburg[116] in the first four matchdays. He had scored from the penalty spot against Bayer Leverkusen[115] and Augsburg.[116] He failed to score in his next three Bundesliga matches.[117] He failed to convert a penalty shot againstMainz 05 on matchday seven.[118] His next Bundesliga goal came when he scored two goals against Borussia Dortmund on matchday eight.[117] One of the goals was scored from the penalty spot.[119] His goalscoring continued in other competitions. He scored two goals against Wolfsburg in the second round of theDFB-Pokal,[120] and in Champions League, two goals againstOlympiacos,[121] two goals againstArsenal,[122] and a goal in the return leg against Olympiacos.[123] In scoring in the home win over Olympiacos, Müller became the youngest player to win 50 UEFA Champions League games, beating the record ofLionel Messi by 14 months.[124]
On 9 December 2015, Müller came on as a 46th-minute substitute for Franck Ribéry in a 2–0 win againstDinamo Zagreb.[125] He failed to convert his penalty shot in the match[126] and finished the group stage with five goals from six appearances.[117] On 18 December 2015, Müller signed a new contract with Bayern, keeping him at the club until 2021.[127] On 19 December 2015,[128] Bayern defeated Hannover 96 1–0[128] with a goal from the penalty mark from Müller.[129] Bayern went on winter break after the match.[129] Müller finished the first half of the league with 14 goals from 17 appearances.[117] This includes scoring five goals from the penalty mark in six opportunities.[117] He had scored 21 goals in 25 appearances in all competitions up until the winter break.[112][117]
On 12 March 2016, Müller scored a brace in a 5–0 victory over Werder Bremen.[130] Four days later, with Bayern trailing Juventus 1–2 in the second leg of theChampions League round of 16, he scored a 91st-minute equaliser before Bayern won in extra time 4–2 (6–4 aggregate).[131] On 19 April 2016, Müller scored both goals in Bayern's 2–0 defeat of Werder Bremen in the DFB-Pokal semi-final. His first goal of the match was his 150th for the club in all competitions.[132] On 3 May 2016, Müller had a penalty kick saved byJan Oblak in the Champions League semi-final second leg at home toAtlético Madrid. The match ended in a 2–1 win for Bayern but the team was knocked out on the away goals rule.[133] He finished the season by scoring 20 goals in 31 league matches, 4 goals in 5 German Cup matches, and 8 goals in 12 Champions League matches.[117] He didn't score in the German Super Cup.[112] With 32 goals in all Competitions, this was Müller's most prolific season to date.[citation needed]
Müller started the season by winning and scoring in the2016 German Super Cup against Borussia Dortmund on 14 August 2016.[134] In the league, Müller did not score for 999 minutes until he scored during a home game against VfL Wolfsburg in the 76th minute.[135] He finished the2016–17 season by scoring five goals in 29Bundesliga appearances, no goals in three German Cup appearances, and three goals in nineChampions League appearances.[136] Müller also provided 12 assists in the Bundesliga.[137]
Several German football experts likeLothar Matthäus blamed managerCarlo Ancelotti for Müller's struggles in front of the goal. Ancelotti often preferredThiago Alcântara as the player playing behind the striker, Müller's prime position. Müller was often benched for the important matches in Europe and in the Bundesliga.[138]
Müller started the2017–18 season by playing in the 2017 German Super Cup.[139] He played in the opening 67 minutes before being replaced byKingsley Coman.[139] His first goal of the season was against Mainz on matchday four of theBundesliga.[140] On 21 January 2018, he scored two goals against Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga, with his second goal in the match being his 100th in the competition.[141]
On 20 February 2018, Müller scored two goals againstBeşiktaş in the first leg of theChampions League round of 16.[142] On 17 April 2018, Müller scored a hat-trick in Bayern's 6–2 defeat of Bayer Leverkusen in the DFB-Pokal semi-finals. Overall, Müller scored eight goals and provided 14 assists in 29 league matches.[143]
Müller started the2018–19 season by starting in theGerman Super Cup.[144] Müller scored in the first two matchdays in theBundesliga season.[145] He scored in the second round of theGerman Cup againstSV Rödinghausen.[146] He scored two goals againstFortuna Düsseldorf in the Bundesliga on 24 November 2018.[147] On 12 December 2018, Müller played his 105th Champions League match in a match againstAjax and therefore leveling former club legendPhilipp Lahm as the record appearance holder in the Champions League at Bayern.[148] In that same match, Müller was sent off for the first time in his career for a straight red card.[149][150] This resulted in a two-match suspension.[151]
On 15 December 2018, Müller made his 300th Bundesliga appearance for Bayern against Hannover 96.[152] On 18 May 2019, Müller won his seventh consecutive Bundesliga title as Bayern finished two points above Dortmund with 78 points. It was Müller's eighth Bundesliga title. A week later, He won his fifth DFB-Pokal as Bayern defeatedRB Leipzig 3–0 in the2019 DFB-Pokal Final.[153]
On 2 November 2019, Müller made his 500th competitive appearance for Bayern, becoming the 10th Bayern player to reach this mark since the club's promotion to the Bundesliga in 1965.[154] The following month, he became the first-ever player to register 11 assists in the first half of a Bundesliga season, achieving the new record in his side's 2–0 win over Wolfsburg.[155] On 7 April 2020, Müller pegged a contract extension keeping him at Bayern until 2023.[156] He recorded his 20th assist of the Bundesliga season in an away match against Bayer Leverkusen on matchday 30, breaking the record for most assists in a season, previously held byKevin De Bruyne andEmil Forsberg.[157] He provided another assist in an away match against Wolfsburg on Matchday 34, to finish off the season with a record of 21 assists.[158]
On 14 August, Müller scored a brace and assisted another in the2019–20 UEFA Champions League quarter-final match against Barcelona, which ended in an8–2 win.[159] Later on, Bayern won 1–0 overParis Saint-Germain in thefinal, which marked the club's sixth Champions League title and Müller's second Champions League title.[160] He finished the season by scoring 8 goals in 33 league matches, two goals in six German Cup matches, and 4 goals in 10 Champions League matches.[citation needed]
On 18 September 2020, Müller scored his first goal of the season, and provided one assist, in an emphatic 8–0 league win over Schalke 04.[161] He later managed to win both theUEFA Super Cup and theDFL-Supercup with the latter being his 27th trophy of his club career; hence, Müller became the most decorated footballer in German history, breaking the previous record of 26 trophies won by his former Bayern teammate Bastian Schweinsteiger.[162] On 11 February 2021, Müller tested positive forCOVID-19 and went intoquarantine; hence, could not play in the2020 FIFA Club World Cup Final.[163] However, Bayern went on to win the final 1–0 against Mexican sideTigres UANL which completed their continental sextuple.[164] On 8 May, Müller won his ninth consecutive Bundesliga title as Bayern finished the league in first place with 78 points, 13 points ahead of second-placed Borussia Dortmund. It was Müller's 10th Bundesliga title overall.
On 17 August 2021, Müller scored his first goal of the season, and provided one assist, in a 3–1 away win against Borussia Dortmund in the2021 DFL-Supercup.[165] On 19 November, Müller made his 600th appearance for Bayern in a 2–1 loss to Augsburg, becoming the fourth overall appearance maker behindSepp Maier, Gerd Müller andOliver Kahn.[166] On 8 December, Müller scored his 50th goal in the UEFA Champions League against Barcelona in a 3–0 win, becoming only the 8th player in the competition's history to do so.[167]
On 17 December, Müller played his 400th match in the Bundesliga, scored one goal and assisted another in a 4–0 home win over Wolfsburg.[168] On 23 April 2022, following a 3–1 win against Dortmund inDer Klassiker, Bayern won their 10th consecutive Bundesliga title, in the process, making Müller the player with the most Bundesliga title wins in history with 11. On 3 May, Müller extended his contract with Bayern, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2023–24 season.[169]
On 1 April 2023, Müller scored a brace in a 4–2 win over Dortmund as Bayern regain top position in the league.[170] Eventually, Bayern won their 11th consecutive Bundesliga title on goal difference ahead of Dortmund;[171] meanwhile, Müller extended his record by winning his 12th league title overall.[172] He finished the season by scoring 8 goals in 40 matches in all Competitions.
On 18 August 2023, Müller came off the bench in the 84th minute in a 4–0 away win over Werder Bremen in the opening match, in which he managed to participate in 16 Bundesliga seasons to become the first player to achieve this feat at the club.[173] On 20 September, he featured in a 4–3 win over Manchester United in the opening match of theChampions League, to become the third player to reach 100 wins in the competition, afterCristiano Ronaldo andIker Casillas.[174] On 19 December 2023, he extended his contract with Bayern until 30 June 2025.[175]
On 3 February 2024, Müller became the first player to reach 500 wins with Bayern in a 3–1 league victory overBorussia Mönchengladbach.[176] On 6 April, he featured in his 700th match for Bayern in a 3–2 away loss againstHeidenheim.[177][178] On 30 April, he played his 150th Champions League match in a 2–2 draw againstReal Madrid in the semi-finals, becoming the third player to achieve this feat with one club, followingXavi and Iker Casillas.[179] On 8 May, in the return leg, he featured in his 151st game, matching Xavi's record of most matches for one club in the competition.[180] On the final matchday of the season, he equaledSepp Maier's record of most Bundesliga appearances for Bayern with 473 matches.[181] He finished the season by scoring 7 goals in 41 matches in all competitions.
On 16 August 2024, Müller scored his club's first goals of the season, by netting a brace in a 4–0 away win overUlm in theDFB-Pokal.[182] On 25 August, he played in the league opening match against Wolfsburg, reaching a record of 474 Bundesliga appearances with the club, in addition to equaling Sepp Maier's record of 709 competitive appearances for Bayern.[183] On 1 September, on the second matchday againstFreiburg, he set a new record for themost appearances for Bayern, reaching a total of 710 matches across all competitions while scoring his team's second goal, which also marked his 150th in the Bundesliga.[184][185][186]
On 17 September, Müller featured in his 152ndChampions League match which ended in a 9–2 victory overDinamo Zagreb, breaking previous record of Xavi as the player with most appearances for one club in the competition.[187] On matchday six of the UEFA Champions League, he scored his first goal of the competition's season in a 5–1 away victory overShakhtar Donetsk. This meant he had scored in sixteen Champions League seasons, catching up withRyan Giggs andCristiano Ronaldo; onlyLionel Messi andKarim Benzema scored in more seasons.[188] On 20 December 2024, Müller became the first player in history to win 350 Bundesliga matches, in a 5–1 home victory againstRB Leipzig.[189]
In late March 2025, reports emerged that Müller's contract with Bayern would not be renewed.[190] On 5 April, it was confirmed that Müller would leave Bayern at the end of theseason, bringing his 25 years with the club to an end.[191] In his first match after his departure was announced, Müller came on as a substitute and scored a late equaliser in a 2–1 loss againstInter Milan in theChampions League quarter-finals first leg.[192] He wouldcaptain his team for full 90 minutes in the second leg, marking his 163rd Champions League appearance, tying Lionel Messi for third-most appearances in UCL history. The match would end in a 2–2 draw, eliminating Bayern out of the competition and marking Müller's last ever Champions League match for his side.[193] On 26 April, he featured in his 500th Bundesliga match in a 3–0 victory over Mainz.[194]
On 4 May, Müller secured his 13th Bundesliga title, extending his own record,[195] and in doing so, equaled Ryan Giggs' record for the most titles in the top five European leagues. Additionally, he matched the record for the most decorated German footballer with 34 titles, sharing the achievement withToni Kroos.[13] On 10 May, he played his 750th match for Bayern Munich and his final match at the Allianz Arena in a 2–0 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach, marking the occasion by lifting the league trophy.[196] On 15 June, he scored twice in Bayern's 10–0 win overAuckland City, marking his 250th goal for the club in their opening match of theFIFA Club World Cup.[197] On 5 July, he made his final appearance for Bayern in a 2–0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup quarter-finals.[198]
On 6 August 2025, Müller joinedMajor League Soccer clubVancouver Whitecaps FC as afree agent, signing a contract for the remainder of the2025 season, with aDesignated Player option for 2026.[199] He scored his first goal for the club, a second half stoppage-time penalty, in a 3–2 league home victory overSt. Louis City on 23 August.[200] On 13 September, on his 36th birthday, Müller scored a hat-trick in a 7–0 league home victory overPhiladelphia Union.[201] The Whitecaps played against neighbouringVancouver FC in thefinal of the2025 Canadian Championship on 1 October, claiming their fourth consecutive national title. Müller had a goal and an assist in the 4–2 victory,[202] the goal being the 300th of his professional career. With his thirty-fifth trophy, he surpassed former teammateToni Kroos as the most decorated German player.[203]
Müller wore the number 13 for Germany, a number famously worn by German legendGerd Müller who said of his namesake; "he's going to be a great player".[204]Müller with Germany in 2011
Müller representedGermany at various youth levels, starting with the under-16s in 2004.[205] In August 2009, he was called up to theunder-21 team for his debut in a 3–1friendly defeat againstTurkey.[206] He earned six caps for the under-21s and scored one goal,[207] the eighth in an 11–0 thrashing ofSan Marino.[208]
In October of the same year, Müller's regular appearances for Bayern's first team caused Germany national teammanagerJoachim Löw to publicly consider him for a call-up,[209][210] despite initial reluctance from the Bayern Munich board;[211] the following month, Müller was named in the squad for a friendly against theIvory Coast.[212] However, this coincided with the death of national teamgoalkeeperRobert Enke, which led to the cancellation of a match againstChile the same week.[213] With less opportunity to try out new players, and with the under-21 team facing crucialqualifiers for the2011 European Championship, Löw and under-21 managerRainer Adrion felt that Müller was needed at the under-21 level, and Müller was called back into the under-21s.[214]
He was back in the senior squad for its next get-together, a training session inSindelfingen in January 2010,[215] and was named in the squad for the following match, a friendly againstArgentina in March.[216] He made his debut in this game in the starting XI at the Allianz Arena, his home stadium with Bayern. He was substituted in the 66th minute for fellow debutantToni Kroos as Germany lost 1–0.[217]
Müller was named in Germany's provisional 27-mansquad for the2010 FIFA World Cup along with seven other Bayern Munich players.[218] Despite suffering a scare when he fell off his bicycle at the team's training camp inSouth Tyrol,[219] Müller only received superficial injuries and made the final cut for the tournament when the squad was reduced to 23 players.[220] He was allocated thenumber 13,[221] normally worn by injuredcaptainMichael Ballack,[221] and previously worn by Müller's eponym Gerd Müller.[221] He earned his second international cap in the final warm-up match before the World Cup when he came on as a half-time substitute forPiotr Trochowski in a 3–1 win overBosnia and Herzegovina.[222] He started the first game of Germany's World Cup campaign and scored the third goal – his first internationally – in a4–0 win overAustralia,[223] winning Germany's goal of the month award in the process.[224]
Müller played in all Germany's group games, as they finished top ofGroup D; he scored twice and assisted once in the4–1 victory overEngland in the round of 16.[225] In the third minute of Germany's 4–0quarter-final win against Argentina, he opened the scoring with his fourth tournament goal.[226] However, he picked up his second booking of the tournament in the first half, for ahandball[227] and was suspended for thesemi-final defeat againstSpain. Müller said that he felt far more nervous during the Spain game than any he was able to play.[26] He returned to the team for thethird-place playoff againstUruguay and scored the first goal, his fifth of the tournament, as Germany won 3–2 to take the bronze medals.[228] The team's success was a culmination of a series of changes made after the national team's failure atEuro 2000. The Germans emphasized a more open, attack-minded style not previously associated with Germany, and included prominent young players, including Müller,Sami Khedira andMesut Özil.[229]
In October 2010, he was named on theshortlist for the FIFA Ballon d'Or award along with four of his Germany teammates.[233] Reflecting on his World Cup success, Müller said "I basically got lucky, I hit form at just the right time".[58]
Müller started all ten of Germany'sEuro 2012 qualifiers, as the team qualified for the finals with a 100% record. Müller provided assists for seven goals,[234] three of which came in a 6–2 win overAustria in September 2011 which secured Germany's qualification for the finals with two games to spare.[235] He scored three times in the campaign, two goals coming in a 4–0 win overKazakhstan in March 2011,[236] the third in a 3–1 win overTurkey in October of the same year.[237]
Müller was included in Joachim Löw's squad forEuro 2012,[238] where the Germans were knocked out in the semi-finals byItaly.[239]
Müller (no. 13) celebrating with Germany after winning the2014 FIFA World Cup
Müller scored his firstWorld Cup qualifying goals on 22 March 2013, getting Germany's opener and final goal in a 3–0 away win over Kazakhstan.[240] He also scored in the 3–0 victories over Austria and theFaroe Islands to give him four goals in Germany's successful qualification campaign.[241][242]
On 16 June 2014, in Germany's opening match of the2014 World Cup,[243] Müller scored the first hat-trick of the tournament and was named man of the match in a 4–0 win againstPortugal.[244] In addition, he was also the target ofPepe's headbutt in the 37th minute, which resulted in the Portuguese defender being sent off.[243][244] He denied that he had "overplayed" the situation leading to the red card.[245] On 26 June, Müller scored the only goal of the final group match against theUnited States to help the Germans winGroup G and dispelled fear of collusion between German coach Joachim Löw and American coach Jürgen Klinsmann to play to a result that benefited both Germany and the US as had occurred in1982.[246]
On 8 July, Müller scored Germany's opening goal in their 7–1semi-finaldefeat of Brazil.[247] This was Germany's 2,000th goal in its history, and put Müller level withHelmut Rahn's tally of ten World Cup goals. Müller also became only the third player to score at least five goals in each of his first two World Cups (afterTeófilo Cubillas and teammate Miroslav Klose).[248]
On 11 July, Müller was named on the ten-man shortlist for FIFA'sGolden Ball award for the tournament's best player.[249] After playing all 120 minutes of Germany'sfinal 1–0 victory against Argentina, Müller received theSilver Boot as the tournament's second-top goalscorer with five goals,[250][251] and was also named in theWorld Cup All-Star XI, having played a major role in his team's World Cup triumph.[252]
Müller featured in nine of ten matches during Germany's qualifying campaign forUEFA Euro 2016, scoring nine goals as Germany topped their qualifying group to qualify forEuro 2016.[253]
Müller started in all six matches that Germany played at the finals. In their quarter-final match againstItaly, Müller's shot was the first one to be saved in thepenalty shoot-out during the tournament.[254] This was also the first time Germany failed to score in a shoot-out sinceUli Stielike missed in the1982 World Cup.[254] Germany would still end up winning the shoot-out 6–5, however.[254] Müller's poor run of form throughout the tournament hindered Germany's chances, and they would be eliminated by hostsFrance in the semi-finals. Müller exited the competition without adding a goal to his name at the European Championship.[255]
Müller was selected in Germany's final 23-man squad by manager Joachim Löw for the2018 FIFA World Cup.[256] Müller played in all three matches for Germany againstMexico,Sweden andSouth Korea. Müller started against Mexico and Sweden, but came on as a substitute against South Korea. Müller did not manage to score a goal as Germany crashed out of the World Cup at the group stage for the first time since1938 following a shock loss to South Korea.[257]
On 5 March 2019, national team coachJoachim Löw confirmed that he would plan without Müller for the foreseeable future, along with his club teammatesJérôme Boateng andMats Hummels.[258] Müller said after the decision that he was "angry and surprised" why Löw decided to drop him and his Bayern teammates.[259] However, after Löw later admitted in March 2021 that he was considering reversing his decision and allowing the previously barred players to partake in the upcomingUEFA Euro 2020, Müller insisted he was "definitely ready" to return to international duty, stating his desire to win another title with Germany.[260]
On 19 May 2021, Müller, along with Hummels, was included in Germany's final 26-man squad forUEFA Euro 2020, ending a period of over two years of exclusion from the national team.[261] In the Euro 2020 round of 16, Müller missed a one-on-one chance againstEngland when the score was 1–0 for the latter; however, England went on eventually to beat Germany 2–0.[262] Hence, Müller played 15 matches in the European Championship without scoring any goals.[263]
In November 2022, he was selected in the final squad for the2022 FIFA World Cup inQatar.[264] Müller played in all three matches for Germany againstJapan,Spain andCosta Rica, but failed to find the net as Germany were eliminated in the group stage for the second time in a row following an upset comeback loss to Japan, stalemate against Spain, and a 4–2 win against Costa Rica that ultimately proved meaningless.[265]
Müller was named in Germany's squad forUEFA Euro 2024.[266] In the team's opening match againstScotland on 14 June, he came on as a substitute forJamal Musiala in the 74th minute and assistedEmre Can's fifth goal of the 5–1 win.[267] He later featured as a substitute in the quarter-finals against Spain, which ended in a 2–1 defeat after extra time.[268][269]
On 15 July 2024, Müller announced his retirement from international football. He scored 45 goals in 131 international appearances.[270]
Müller is a versatile player.[229] In Bayern's youth system, he primarily played as amidfielder,[26] but since joining the first team, he has played as anattacker. Bayern Munich usually plays a4–2–3–1 formation, and Müller usually plays as one of the threeattacking midfielders behind the central striker,[271] but he can also play as asecond striker.[272][9][273][274]
Although he lacks physical strength,[275] Müller has been praised for his tactical intelligence,[276][277] finishing, and positioning.[58][275] Former Germany managerJoachim Löw said he is "impervious to pressure"[26] and former Bayern managerLouis van Gaal said he has tremendous mental strength.[58] Müller is heavily involved in buildup play[278] and he has been praised by the media for his intelligent movement off the ball;[274][279] he describes himself as a player who can find spaces in the opposition defence but not particularly good at dribbling or one-on-ones.[26] Müller describes this role asRaumdeuter,[280][281] a term which translates, literally, to "space interpreter".
During the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Löw said Müller "is a very unorthodox player and you can't really predict his lines of running, but he has one aim and that is 'how can I score a goal?'".[282] In addition to his offensive capabilities, Müller has also been praised by pundits for his stamina and defensive work-rate.[9][283][284] Former Bayern assistant coachHermann Gerland gave him the nicknameRadio Müller for his loud and frequent comments on the pitch and in the dressing room.
Müller was born inWeilheim in Oberbayern, Bavaria.[285] He was raised in the nearby village ofPähl, which became the centre of media attention during his 2010 FIFA World Cup campaign.[286] His parents are Klaudia and Gerhard, and he has a brother, Simon, who is two and a half years younger.[286]
Müller married his long-time girlfriend Lisa Trede, a semi-professional equestrienne who works on a farm,[287] in December 2009 after being engaged for two years.[288] In June 2011, he became an ambassador forYoungWings, a charity that helps children who have sufferedbereavement or trauma.[289]
^abc"Thomas Muller receives his World Cup awards".FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). 6 October 2014. Archived fromthe original on 11 October 2014. Retrieved15 February 2018.Thomas Mueller (C) receives the adidas silver Ball as second best player of the FIFA World Cup 2014™ and the adidas silver boot for the second best goalscorer of the World Cup from Herbert Hainer, CEO adidas group (L) and his Brother Simon Mueller (R) at the adidas headquarter in Herzogenaurach.
^abc"Muller receives World Cup honours".FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). 6 October 2014. Archived fromthe original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved15 February 2018.Muller was recognised by FIFA's Technical Study Group (TSG) for his impressive performances at the world's greatest football competition, receiving the adidas Silver Ball as the World Cup's second-best player. [...] With five goals and three assists, he also secured the adidas Silver Boot as the second-highest goalscorer at the 2014 World Cup, having previously won the Golden Boot in South Africa four years earlier.
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