Striker Thomas Muller has had a change of heart, switching his admiration from Cristiano Ronaldo to Lionel Messi, who’s often referred to as the GOAT, or the greatest player of all time.

“Messi is history’s finest” – Muller

Back in September 2022, ESPN asked Muller, “Who’s better: Ronaldo or Messi?” He responded, “It’s a bit of a silly question, but I’ll go with Ronaldo. My encounters with Messi have gone well, while my stats against Ronaldo aren’t as impressive.” He reiterated this stance in a March 2023 interview with Spanish media.

But in less than six months, Muller’s viewpoint took a turn during an interview with DAZN. He voiced, “Messi is history’s finest. People flock to the field to witness his brilliance, beyond just records and trophies. Cristiano Ronaldo is also a strong contender in terms of records and titles, but Messi is simply on another level.”

Muller has been expressing his admiration for Messi since the Argentine superstar moved to Inter Miami

Since Messi’s move to Inter Miami in July 2023, Muller has been active on Twitter, expressing his admiration for the Argentine superstar. Interestingly, he’s been notably silent about Ronaldo, despite Ronaldo’s recent triumph with Al Nassr in the Arab Club Champions Cup.

Muller isn’t the first player to switch their opinion about the GOAT debate. Midfielder Sergio Ramos went through a similar shift. During his time at Real Madrid, Ramos believed Ronaldo held the title. However, after spending two seasons with Messi at PSG, he now declares the Argentine captain as the greatest.

Ramos is similar to Muller

Just recently, Messi showcased his brilliance by contributing two assists to help Leonardo Campana score, leading Miami to victory over top MLS team Cincinnati FC in the US Cup semi-finals on the morning of August 24 (Hanoi time). Over eight US games, the 36-year-old striker has impressively scored 10 goals and provided three assists. Looking ahead, Miami is set to face the Houston Dynamo in the final on September 27, playing on their home turf in Florida.

Messi is leading Miami to victory

Up next for Messi are the first MLS matches, where he’ll take on the New York Red Bulls, Nashville, and Los Angeles FC. Despite the demanding schedule of two games per week, he’s often played the full 90 minutes. Following Miami’s advancement to the US Cup final, Coach Tata Martino acknowledged Messi’s exhaustion, hinting that he might rest for the next three games.