Having achieved every possible victory with the team he supported since childhood, one might assume that Thomas Muller would struggle to identify the most significant accomplishment of his illustrious journey. That assumption would be incorrect. Eleven years following that unforgettable evening in Belo Horizonte, the happiness that he and his fellow players were able to provide to 80 million German citizens remains the defining moment.
Muller played a crucial role in the 2014 World Cup, the competition in which Germany secured the World Cup title for the first time as a unified nation, achieving a surprising 7-1 victory over hosts Brazil in the semifinal on July 8, before defeating Argentina at the Maracana five days later.
The 35-year-old, who departed Bayern Munich at the beginning of this month when his contract concluded, attained every honor at the club level, securing 13 Bundesliga titles and two Champions League titles, and maintains the record for the most appearances at the most successful club in German football history. Nevertheless, when questioned about whether his achievements with Die Mannschaft held greater significance, he responded without hesitation.
“It was more meaningful, not because the club holds less importance, but rather due to the people involved,” he conveyed to CBS Sports’ Kickin’ It. “When you achieve victory with the national team, you share it with 80 million people. For every individual cheering, it’s crucial that you succeed. You feel the connections to history. There is nothing more significant than a World Cup victory for Germany when you are a football player in Germany, to win it for 80 million people.
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“When you observe the videos and images illustrating its meaning to them in that moment, perhaps not for their entire lives, but potentially so. When they experience this winning moment, everyone recalls the final or the Brazil game. It’s such a pivotal moment in everyone’s life. You feel it.”
Beyond Germany, many felt something truly extraordinary during the 2014 semifinal, the incredible triumph that left both Brazilian players and the entire nation in a state of bewilderment. Muller initiated the scoring in the 11th minute, moving past the penalty spot to powerfully volley Toni Kroos’ corner kick into the net. Within eighteen minutes, the scoreline read 5-0, as the hosts who had believed they were destined to overcome the memories of their 1950 defeat on home soil plummeted into even deeper despair.
The peculiarity didn’t cease with one of the most remarkable outcomes in footballing history, however. Five days after inflicting such suffering on Brazil, Germany discovered their host nation supporting them in the final. Anyone but Argentina, they concluded.
Reflecting on the “strange” experience of defeating Brazil, Muller remarked: “They were devastated, and to be honest, it was a somewhat bizarre sensation. We could savor it, but you noticed from the outset that the pressure was incredibly intense. Football is such a vital topic in this country, in Brazil. Prior to the game, the players were praying, the national anthem, the entire stadium, for them that game and progressing to the final held immense importance.
“It was heartbreaking in one instant but also gratifying to witness this human reaction. Initially, I pondered, ‘Okay, what will occur if we secure victory, perhaps with a questionable decision from the referee?’ I don’t know, we would have to journey back to our base camp, [it could be an emotional journey], the emotions would escalate with this type of result…”
“They were even cheering for us in the final because it was against Argentina. That was beneficial.”
Muller concluded his time at Bayern Munich on Saturday, marking his record 756th and final appearance with the club, a 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain concluding a quarter-century association with the club he had grown up supporting. The decision to part ways at the end of his contract was not the veteran’s, with Bayern announcing in early April that they would not be extending his contract.
“Ultimately, I didn’t feel offended,” Muller stated. “A relationship between a club and a player, even if it’s deeply sentimental and unique, is invariably rooted in business or football decisions. There are always instances during a contract where one party contemplates, ‘I’m mistaken in this situation’. What transpired, transpired. Ultimately, I never sensed any disrespect from anyone within the club.
“From the individuals who made the decisions and the high-ranking officials within the club, I consistently felt that they were extremely grateful for my contributions to the club. Everything is satisfactory. It’s a fairytale narrative.”
Regarding what the future may hold, he appended: “I intend to ascertain it within the next few weeks. Should there not be the ideal resolution for me or the opportunity to declare, ‘Okay, yes, I’m content with that’, then I may opt to cease, to conclude my career, or perhaps choose to wait and observe what unfolds. I endeavor to feel at ease in uncomfortable circumstances. I harbor no apprehension for the uncomfortable situations that lie ahead.”
