Thomas Muller is fast becoming a modern FIFA World Cup
great and is set to contest his first final on Sunday.
At just 24 years old, Bayern Munich attacker Muller has
accumulated an impressive list of honours, with three Bundesliga titles, a UEFA
Champions League winners medal and a FIFA Club World Cup triumph already in the
bag.
While rarely mentioned alongside the likes of Cristiano
Ronaldo and Lionel Messi - who he will come up against in Sunday's clash with
Argentina - when it comes to discussions over the best player in the world, it
is also difficult to find fault with Muller's World Cup record.
After claiming the Golden Boot with five goals at the
2010 tournament in South Africa, where he was named the best young player,
Muller has been utilised as Germany's most advanced attacking player for much
of this year's event.
Joachim Low has been one of the main trend-setters in a
growing fashion for omitting traditional frontmen from his starting XI, with
the versatile Muller the regular spearhead in a menacing and fluid German
forward line.
And that approach has reaped rewards - Muller sitting
just one goal short of Colombia's James Rodriguez in the race for the 2014
Golden Boot.
Low has, however, reverted to calling on Miroslav Klose
to lead his attack in Germany's last two matches, with the Poland-born striker
becoming the World Cup's all-time leading goalscorer during his side's 7-1
semi-final demolition of hosts Brazil.
Such is Muller's record at the World Cup, Klose's marker
of 16 goals could prove well within his grasp.
The Bavarian has 10 World Cup goals to his name so far
and could potentially feature at another three tournaments - Muller would be 36
in 2026.
However, Muller's contribution to the German team is
about more than just goals - he is a constant threat around the opposition box
and has also chipped in with three assists during the current tournament.
His meeting with Messi should provide an interesting
contrast between the two.
The Barcelona attacker came into the tournament with the
weight of expectation to turn in a defining World Cup display, but it is Muller
who has so far shone the brightest of the two.
Only one will leave the Maracana with a winners' medal
around their neck on Sunday.
Muller may have won almost all there is to win in club
football, but now has the opportunity to claim the most sought-after trophy of
all.
Culled from Soccerway
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