Aug 17, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielder Thomas Muller (13) waves to fans after the game against the Houston Dynamo at BC Place. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-Imagn Images

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I Will Hunt Messi Again: Thomas Müller Warns Lionel Messi After MLS Debut With Vancouver Whitecaps

Thomas Müller has set his sights on Lionel Messi once again after beginning his new adventure in Major League Soccer with the Vancouver Whitecaps. The Germany and Bayern Munich legend, who ended his 25-year association with the Bavarians this summer, has signed a deal until the end of the 2025 MLS season with an option for a further year.

The 34-year-old opined that his rivalry with Lionel Messi isn’t finished yet as he playfully vowed to “hunt” the Inter Miami star. Notably, both Müller and Messi have crossed paths many times on the biggest stages, most memorably in the 2014 World Cup final, when Müller’s Germany beat Messi’s Argentina 1-0 thanks to Mario Götze’s extra-time winner.

Though the two sides will not meet in the regular season, the possibility of a showdown remains if Vancouver and Miami both reach the MLS Cup Final. With both clubs in strong playoff positions, the prospect of Müller and Messi colliding once more is very much alive.

I Will Hunt Messi Again: Thomas Müller

In head-to-head meetings, Müller has a remarkable record of seven wins in ten matches against Messi, including Bayern’s emphatic 8-2 win over Barcelona in the 2020 Champions League. Despite the edge, Müller still hailed Messi as the “greatest player of all time”. Meanwhile, he cheekily reminded Messi that he would try to beat him again on American soil.

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Muller said,

“But to be honest, for me, Messi’s the greatest player we have in this game. We always have this Cristiano [Ronaldo] and Messi discussion, but they both are crazy. Yeah, but Messi was a little bit more elegant.

“I think in my first 10 years as a professional player, I always went for Cristiano, if there’s the GOAT debate. But now I’m a little bit older, a little bit more romantic, and I go more for the style than only for the performance, the work ethic, and so on and so on. And after Messi won the World Cup with Argentina, I go for him…But, I will hunt you again.”

Reflecting on his long rivalry with Messi, Müller admitted there’s no clear blueprint to stopping the Argentine great, though he has enjoyed more success than most. “It worked out often enough,” he told MLS in an interview with Maurice Edu. “We also had big defeats against Barcelona once, I think 2015, when they won the [UEFA] Champions League. We lost against them.”

Thomas Müller has high praise for Messi, but there's a warning attached. 😂 pic.twitter.com/a3K1rV2DnA
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 21, 2025

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Müller made his MLS debut at the weekend, coming off the bench in the 61st minute of Vancouver’s 1-1 draw with the Houston Dynamo. Within moments he thought he had marked his debut with a spectacular goal, only to see it disallowed. The attacking midfielder is expected to be a key influence for the Whitecaps as they chase a playoff push.

Currently, Vancouver sit third in the Western Conference with 46 points from 26 matches, while Inter Miami are fifth in the East on 45 points from 24 games. In the Supporters’ Shield standings, Vancouver and Miami occupy seventh and eighth place respectively.

Lionel Messi

MLS

MLS 2025

Thomas Muller

Vancouver Whitecaps

Abhinav Goel

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I am a soccer writer at The PlayOffs, covering everything from match analysis to transfer buzz and tactical deep dives. Ever since I was a kid, soccer has been more than just a sport to me—it’s been an obsession. Playing and watching the game from a young age fueled my passion, eventually leading me into the world of sports media and betting. Now, I get to analyze the sport I love and bring the latest updates to fans worldwide.