New Vancouver Whitecaps acquisition Thomas Muller has shared his thoughts on the prospect of facing Lionel Messi and Inter Miami in the MLS. While the German football star is not concentrating on the Eastern Conference team, he expressed admiration for the Argentine player.
In a conversation with the MLS club’s media team, Muller remarked on the positive rivalry he has always experienced with Messi. He acknowledged that triumphing over the best is something he relishes and hopes to continue this trend from his time with Bayern Munich and the German national team. He stated (via Tribuna):
“The competition with Leo Messi is closer to a positive rivalry. I faced him several times in big matches, and when you see what he’s doing now, it’s astonishing. I think he scores in almost every match. The media attention is immense when Leo Messi is present, and this can make things very special.”
“I don’t want to think now about facing Inter Miami and Messi, but it’s obvious that playing against a team with Messi is always a wonderful experience for any football player because he is an exceptional figure in our sport, and beating the best is always the most enjoyable. That’s what I’ve experienced repeatedly with Bayern Munich and the national team.”
Thomas Muller parted ways with Bayern Munich following the recent FIFA Club World Cup, where his contract concluded. He has since signed with the Vancouver Whitecaps on a free transfer, akin to Lionel Messi’s return to Inter Miami in 2023, although he has yet to make his debut.
Thomas Muller has consistently discussed his record against Lionel Messi
Throughout his career, Thomas Muller has faced Lionel Messi 10 times, both for Bayern Munich and the German national squad. He boasts victory in seven of those encounters, including the 2014 FIFA World Cup final.
In a 2022 interview with ESPN, he remarked (via BolaVIP):
“Messi or Ronaldo? I’ll go for Ronaldo. Against Messi, I have a good statistic, against Ronaldo not that good.”
Nonetheless, he regarded the Argentine as his GOAT during a discussion with DAZN. He noted that both Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are strong contenders, but he leans towards the Inter Miami captain, declaring (via BolaVIP):
“The GOAT for me is Messi because he makes people say, ‘I go to the stadium because of his elegance,’ and at the same time, he is very effective in scoring goals and achieving records and titles. Cristiano is also a strong candidate in two categories which are stats and titles, but Messi is simply more subtle and elegant.”
This season, Inter Miami already played against the Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS, which pushes the first league encounter between Thomas Muller and Lionel Messi to next season. However, they may face off in the Leagues Cup or the MLS Cup, depending on the draw and final standings.
Image Source: Lionel Messi @ Instagram
