Thomas Müller: Bayern Munich's record man

Just four days after turning 35 on September 13, 2024, Thomas Müller became the player with the most Champions League appearances for a single club (152), passing Xavi's previous record of 151. Now, only Lionel Messi (163), Iker Casillas (177) and Cristiano Ronaldo (183) have made more appearances in the competition than Müller. *all stats true of 07.11.2024

Müller leads the way as the German with the most ever goals in Europe's top competition, scoring 54. That tally has him in seventh behind Ruud van Nistelrooy, but ahead of Thierry Henry (50). His season best in the competition is eight — which he has managed twice.

Famous for setting up his teammates, Müller has made a habit of it over the years. He is currently tied for the sixth most assists in Champions League history, sharing the spot with former Barcelona legend Xavi. Only Ryan Giggs (31), Neymar (33), Angel Di Maria (39), Messi (40) and Ronaldo (42) have managed more.

What started as a 10-year-old joining the Bayern Munich youth side in 2000 and turned into his senior debut against Hamburg in 2008, has now become a remarkable story of the club's most capped player. On September 1, 2024, Müller overtook goalkeeper Sepp Maier and has now played the most games ever for Germany's record champions.

While a special number, it's not quite as many as Karl-Heinz Körbel's remarkable 602 for Frankfurt or even as many as teammate Manuel Neuer's 498. But at the start of the 2024-25 season, Müller did become the man who has made the most Bundesliga appearances for Bayern, passing Sepp Maier (again) in the process. He may well pass Neuer yet.

Müller hasn't scored the most goals in Bundesliga history and in fact, he sits in 17th place, five behind Marco Reus. Nevertheless, 150 is a remarkable number and comes thanks, in no small part, to seven double-digit campaigns, including his 20-goal season in 2016. He scored goal 150 the game after he set the record for the most appearances in club history.

Müller's remarkable assist total of 221 is a whopping 96 ahead of the man in No. 2, his former teammate Franck Ribery. Reus has 123 in third. Müller has only delivered single-digit assists in three seasons (nine in 2023-24), and in the three seasons between 2019 and 2022 he delivered 21 assists each campaign. In short, if you need an assist, give Thomas a call.

Müller has won an astounding 32 trophies with Bayern Munich, including a record 12 Bundesliga titles. He's won the German Cup six times and the Champions League twice. It's also no surprise that he has the most wins of any player in club history, either. Müller is truly a player whose career will go down in the history books.