Thomas Muller Named Lionel Messi Greatest Player
The German forward cited World Cup achievements as the catalyst for his shift in preference.
Updated on Oct. 4, 2026 in Soccer
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Bayern Munich star Thomas Muller has officially identified Lionel Messi as the greatest football player in history. Muller previously favored Cristiano Ronaldo throughout the first decade of his professional career.
Why it matters
Muller noted that his perspective shifted after observing Messi's performance in the 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cups. He admitted his previous preference for Ronaldo was influenced by his own personal match history against Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Muller assessed Messi based on a 20-year career span and explicitly cited his results in two separate FIFA World Cup tournaments. He previously spent 10 years favoring Cristiano Ronaldo due to match history.
The players
Thomas Muller
Thomas Muller is a German professional football player known for his long-standing career at Bayern Munich.
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi is an Argentine professional footballer widely considered one of the greatest athletes to play the sport.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is a Portuguese professional footballer and prolific goalscorer who has played for several major European clubs.
The details
Muller discussed his change of heart during an appearance on The Late Run program, where he reflected on his own experiences playing against top-tier clubs. While he once sided with Ronaldo, he stated that Messi's recent international success finalized his decision.
Timeline
Lionel Messi won the FIFA World Cup in 2022.
Lionel Messi achieved runner-up status in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Season Trajectory
This public admission reflects a broader trend among peers in the sport to reconsider historical legacies following recent World Cup outcomes. The shift signals a consensus transition in the ongoing debate over the greatest of all time.
This statement alters the ongoing narrative regarding historical player rankings among current professional athletes. It effectively validates the 2022 World Cup as a primary metric for determining the sport's greatest competitor.
The takeaway
The reassessment highlights how major international tournament results can shift long-held professional opinions. It serves as a reminder that even top-tier athletes are constantly re-evaluating their peers based on evolving career milestones.
Further reading
For more on the current landscape of the professional game, visit the Soccer section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Daily Post Nigeria.
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