Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? Thomas Muller Changes His Mind on GOAT Debate as Vancouver Whitecaps Star Becomes ‘More Romantic’ with Age

A Shift in the Eternal Debate

Few questions have dominated football conversations quite like the one about the GOAT – Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? It’s a debate that has stretched across more than a decade, dividing fan bases, pundits, and even former professionals. Now, one of the most experienced and respected names in world football, Thomas Muller, has decided to change his stance.

The German forward, who recently joined the Vancouver Whitecaps, has officially switched his vote from Cristiano Ronaldo to Lionel Messi, citing a shift in perspective as he grows older and, in his words, “more romantic.” For a player who has battled both icons on some of football’s grandest stages, Muller’s words carry weight — and his reasoning offers an intriguing glimpse into how players themselves view greatness.

What Happened?

In a wide-ranging interview with MLS, Muller was asked the inevitable question: Messi or Ronaldo? For years, his answer had leaned toward the Portuguese star. He admired Ronaldo’s relentless work ethic, his physical dominance, and his staggering numbers. But now, Muller has admitted that his heart has shifted.

“Lionel Messi is the GOAT,” Muller said without hesitation. “In my first 10 years as a professional player, I would have chosen Cristiano Ronaldo. But since the 2022 World Cup with Argentina, it’s been Messi for me. Now, as I get older and more romantic myself, playing style and aesthetics are more important to me than individual performance, work ethic, and so on.”

It was a rare admission from a player who has faced Messi on multiple occasions — often with great success. Bayern Munich, with Muller at its core, handed Barcelona some of their most humiliating defeats, including the unforgettable 8-2 demolition in 2020. And with Germany, Muller and company denied Messi his greatest dream at the time by beating Argentina in the 2014 World Cup final.

What Muller Said

Muller didn’t just give Messi the crown; he contextualised his answer with honesty and humility.

“Both are absolutely crazy,” he said. “I don’t know why it worked so often against him [Messi].”

It was a refreshing acknowledgment that, even for someone like Muller who statistically had more joy against Messi than Ronaldo, admiration for the Argentine goes beyond numbers. This is where Muller’s words strike a chord: they reflect a growing appreciation for the artistry of football, not just its efficiency.

FC Bayern Munchen v Paris Saint-Germain: Round of 16 Second Leg – UEFA Champions League

The Bigger Picture

Muller’s pivot is significant because of who he is. We’re not talking about a pundit throwing out hot takes or a retired player looking for headlines. We’re talking about a footballer with over 600 appearances for Bayern Munich, multiple Bundesliga titles, two Champions League trophies, and a World Cup medal. His career has been defined by consistency, intelligence, and selflessness — qualities that both Messi and Ronaldo possess, albeit expressed in vastly different ways.

For years, Muller leaned toward Ronaldo. He once admitted in an interview that he rated the Portuguese higher because his personal record against Messi was strong, while against Ronaldo he struggled. That admission felt cold and pragmatic, very “Muller-esque,” in the sense that it was rooted in analysis rather than emotion.

But time changes perspectives. At 34, now playing his football in Canada with Vancouver, Muller is not chasing trophies anymore. He’s embracing the beauty of the game, the aesthetics that Messi has embodied for nearly two decades. His words — “as I get older and more romantic myself” — capture a universal truth. Football, at its core, is not just about goals and assists, but about joy, artistry, and moments that stay etched in memory.

Muller’s History With the GOATs

Muller’s career has intertwined with both Messi and Ronaldo in fascinating ways.

• Against Messi: Muller has faced the Argentine several times in the Champions League. Bayern’s high-energy pressing and ruthless finishing have often overwhelmed Barcelona, with Muller himself scoring and assisting in those matches. Perhaps the most iconic was that quarter-final in Lisbon in 2020, where Bayern dismantled Messi’s Barça 8-2.

• Against Ronaldo: Encounters with Ronaldo, whether at Real Madrid or Portugal, were often tougher for Muller. He has openly admitted that his record against Ronaldo’s teams wasn’t as strong, with Real Madrid frequently proving Bayern’s kryptonite in Europe.

And yet, despite enjoying more success against Messi, Muller now places him on top. It underlines how greatness cannot be measured solely by personal duels, but by the broader legacy a player leaves behind.

Messi or Ronaldo? The Eternal Question

The Messi vs Ronaldo debate has always been more than just numbers. Sure, the stats are jaw-dropping:

• Ronaldo: Over 870 career goals, five Ballon d’Ors, and countless records in the Champions League.

• Messi: Over 820 career goals, eight Ballon d’Ors, and the crowning glory of the 2022 World Cup with Argentina.

But Muller’s new perspective shifts the debate toward intangibles — style, artistry, and the emotional impact of a player’s game. Messi’s low centre of gravity, his dribbling that defies physics, and his orchestration of attacks make football look like poetry. Ronaldo’s game, while breathtaking in its athleticism, is more about efficiency, hunger, and an indomitable will to win.

What Muller is saying is that, with age, he has learned to value beauty over efficiency. It’s a deeply human reflection — when we’re younger, results and numbers matter most; as we grow older, we seek meaning in artistry and elegance.

Life After Bayern: Muller’s Vancouver Chapter

Muller’s remarks also come at a personal crossroads. After leaving Bayern Munich, the club he called home since he was a teenager, he embarked on a new adventure in Major League Soccer. His move to Vancouver was emotional, signalling the end of an era in Munich.

In his early days with the Whitecaps, Muller has already made an impact. After seeing a goal disallowed on his debut against Houston Dynamo, he scored a last-minute penalty in his first start, captaining his new team to a dramatic 3-2 victory over St. Louis City.

The Canadian chapter of his career may not be about silverware at the highest level, but it offers Muller the chance to embrace football from a new angle: as a leader, an ambassador, and now, as someone openly reflecting on the artistry of the game he loves.

What’s Next for Muller?

Vancouver Whitecaps FC v Houston Dynamo FC

The Whitecaps are currently flying high, sitting third in their MLS conference. Their next test comes against Philadelphia Union on September 14, and fans are already looking at Muller as a figurehead for their ambitious season. His leadership, both on and off the pitch, could prove pivotal as the club dreams of silverware.

But beyond the immediate results, Muller’s role in Vancouver will be about influence. He has the chance to inspire a new generation of North American footballers, not only through his performances but through his philosophy of the game. His reflections on Messi and Ronaldo, on beauty versus numbers, could resonate with young players who are still learning how to define greatness for themselves.

Final Thoughts: Muller, Messi, and the Meaning of Football

Thomas Muller’s decision to crown Lionel Messi as the GOAT marks more than just a change of opinion. It reflects the evolution of a footballer who has lived the game at the very highest level and now, in the twilight of his career, sees the sport with different eyes.

“Messi is the GOAT,” Muller says, and the words feel less like a definitive verdict and more like a personal revelation. It’s not about dismissing Ronaldo — whom he still respects deeply — but about recognising the sheer romance of Messi’s artistry, especially after the fairytale of Argentina’s World Cup win in Qatar.

The debate will rage on long after all three men — Messi, Ronaldo, and Muller — hang up their boots. But Muller’s reflections add a layer of depth. They remind us that football is not just a science of goals, assists, and trophies. It is also an art, capable of stirring emotions, inspiring generations, and making grown men “more romantic” with age.