BERLIN (AP) — Bayern Munich favorite Thomas Müller could be about to end his career as media reports suggest the club will not extend his contract at the end of the season.
The 35-year-old Müller’s current deal runs only through June and both SportBild and Kicker magazine were reporting that Bayern would prefer to save his considerable wage packet than offer him a new one.
Müller made his Bayern debut under Jürgen Klinsmann in 2008 and his breakthrough came under Louis van Gaal the following season. He has since made more appearances than any other player at the club, 742 across all competitions (with 247 goals) including super cups and club world championships.
He has gone on to win a record 12 Bundesliga titles and two Champions Leagues – and he may win more because Bayern leads the former by six points with seven games remaining, and faces Inter Milan in the Champions League quarterfinals. Munich hosts the final in May.
Müller, who joined Bayern’s youth setup in 2000, brings vast experience and intelligence to the team, but his playing time has been limited. Of his 23 Bundesliga appearances, 15 were as a substitute this season. It’s similar in the Champions League with just three starts from 10 appearances. If he plays at all it’s often just for the final minutes. Last weekend, he went on in the 85th against St. Pauli, and the 87th against Stuttgart last month.
SportBild reported that Bayern’s board member for sport Max Eberl informed the player’s representatives two weeks ago that the club decided not to renew his deal, in contrast to the new contracts for teammates Manuel Neuer, Alphonso Davies, Jamal Musiala and Joshua Kimmich, all recently announced.
Müller reportedly wanted to play on for another season.
Bayern may opt to give the player a short contract extension so he can play at the inaugural Club World Cup in the United States this summer, but Müller will likely have to be content with “just” 13 Bundesliga titles.
Müller retired from international soccer after the European Championship last year, having clocked 131 appearances for Germany. He wore No. 13 for Germany, and always said it was his lucky number.
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FILE - Bayern's Thomas Mueller attends a news conference in Munich, Germany, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, file)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nathan Ordaz scored in the 57th minute, and Los Angeles FC kept Lionel Messi off the scoresheet Wednesday night in a 1-0 victory over Inter Miami in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal matchup.
Messi had produced a goal (5) or an assist (2) in each of his first six Champions Cup appearances since joining Miami two years ago, including three goals in the early rounds of this year's tournament.
After returning from injury only last weekend, Messi played the entire match in Los Angeles. He put two of his five shots on target, but Hugo Lloris stopped both chances.
The clubs meet again in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, April 9, for the second leg of the quarterfinal.
The aggregate winner advances to the semifinals to face MLS’ Vancouver Whitecaps or Liga MX’s Pumas, who played to a 1-1 draw in their first leg.
The 21-year-old Ordaz put LAFC ahead when he eluded Sergio Busquets and hammered a swift shot into the bottom corner of the Herons' net from well outside the penalty area. The promising homegrown player and Los Angeles native also scored against Columbus in a Champions Cup match last month.
Ordaz had narrowly avoided a red card in the first half when he became entangled with Maxi Falcón. The Uruguayan defender went down from what Miami felt was a punch by Ordaz, who was given only a yellow upon video review.
LAFC, which finished as the runner-up in this tournament in 2020 and 2023, ended its 0-4-1 skid over the previous 3 1/2 weeks with a strong performance on both ends against powerhouse Miami, which leads the MLS standings at 4-0-1.
The 37-year-old Messi has been slowed in recent weeks by an adductor injury, forcing him to miss duties with the Argentine national team last month. But he returned to MLS play last Saturday with a goal as a substitute in Miami’s win over Philadelphia, and he was in the Herons’ starting lineup in Los Angeles.
Messi took two free kicks in dangerous areas in the first half, but he sailed his first over the bar and sent the second directly to Lloris.
He had a good chance in the 80th minute, but his quick turnaround shot above the penalty area was also too high. He fired another low shot at Lloris in the 86th minute, and the French keeper smothered it after a bobble.
Messi earned one last free kick off a foul on a dribble in second-half injury time, but also sailed it high.
The packed crowd included NBA great Stephen Curry, whose Golden State Warriors play the Lakers on Thursday night.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer
Fans watch as Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi waits to make a free kick during the first half of an MLS soccer match against Los Angeles FC, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, right, stops the ball as Los Angeles FC midfielder Marco Delgado puts pressure on him during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, second from right, kicks the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match against Los Angeles FC, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, below, and Los Angeles FC midfielder Ryan Hollingshead try to head the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, right, kicks past Los Angeles FC forward Nathan Ordaz during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
