There is simply no stopping Thomas Müller. The Bayern Munich player broke yet another Bundesliga record by surpassing teammate Manuel Neuer to take the overall lead with 323 victories in Germany’s top division.
Like so many other times before, that contagious grin was on display. This time, Mainz was defeated by Bayern and their talismanic 34-year-old attacker who simply doesn’t know when to quit. Prior to the record champions’ visit to the MEWA Arena, Müller and another football icon, Manuel Neuer, were tied with 322 triumphs in the Bundesliga. However, Müller outdid Neuer as Bayern earned a crucial three points for their championship defense.
The gigantic keeper will soon be prepared to compete with his club and international counterpart at the top of the victories chart as Neuer inches closer to his recovery from a fractured leg. But for the time being, all eyes are on Müller, and the Space Invader is having a wonderful time as usual.
Müller had previously stated, “I’m not done yet,” and how accurate that comment has proven to be. The 2014 FIFA World Cup champion, who has only recently returned to the international scene, has increased his total number of senior caps to 125 [with 45 goals] and is currently only five games behind Lukas Podolski, who is third on Germany’s all-time appearance list.
The Bavarian is currently celebrating at his club Bayern, where he scored his 323rd victory in his 449th Bundesliga game. In contrast, Neuer has 322 victories from 478 Bundesliga games for Bayern and Schalke
Müller struggled to get going this season owing to a hip injury, but he eventually overcame the setback to play in what is now, astonishingly, his 16th Bundesliga season with Bayern. No other player at the defending champs has ever accomplished such a feat.
In that period, he has won 11 consecutive Bundesliga championships and a total of 12 crowns, more than any other player in league history.
His record for most victories in the top division comes not long after Müller reached the 100-victory mark in the UEFA Champions League, a feat he accomplished in the Group A triumph over Manchester United in September. In the premier league of European club football, only Cristiano Ronaldo and Iker Casillas have previously succeeded in breaking the century-win barrier, but Müller is the first player to do it while playing for the same team.
Müller, a true pioneer of the sport, once said of his physique and playing manner: “… not as athletic as some players. Some make you think, “Wow, they’re machines.” I tend to be more svelte and agile. I had to learn at a young age to take many paths to my destination. For instance, with game reading, intellect, teammate interaction, timing, and reaction time.
The newest undisputed record holder in the Bundesliga continued, “The best player doesn’t just mean a player has a good shot and can run fast, but that he has the whole package – and that grit and resilience is part of it.”
There is a need to succeed as well, and Bayern’s competitive No. 25 possesses this in abundance. On the final day of the previous campaign, Bayern sought the club’s record-expanding 11th consecutive Meisterschale and famously overcame Cologne to deny Borussia Dortmund and win yet another championship.
“It makes your spine tingle. It’s amazing. Müller reacted famously when Jamal Musiala scored the title-winning goal for Thomas Tuchel’s team, saying, “You’re going crazy. The player continued, “It’s about constantly getting that winning feeling back; we want to go for it again,” at the start of the year.
Müller will continue to add to his new Bundesliga winning record because of this insatiable appetite, which keeps him going back for more. For the time being, bundesliga.com salutes the new all-time leader in wins for the division. Tomas Müller, please salute.
