Ahead of Portugal’s World Cup opener, Thomas Müller drew a comparison that probably no one saw coming. The MagentaTV expert put superstar Cristiano Ronaldo on the same level as Bayern youngster Lennart Karl—and provided the explanation right away.
As an expert, Müller is covering the 2026 World Cup for MagentaTV. On a rooftop terrace in New York, the 2014 World Cup champion spoke with host Laura Wontorra about Ronaldo’s role on the Portuguese national team. That’s when the native Bavarian drew the remarkable parallel.
“The others have to deliver. That’s kind of my approach. So Cristiano is the Lennart Karl of the Portuguese,” Müller said. It’s a comparison that doesn’t seem to fit at first glance: Ronaldo has been shaping world soccer for over two decades, while 18-year-old Karl is just at the beginning of his national team career.
Müller no longer sees Ronaldo as a game-changer
However, Müller was getting at something else. In his view, neither Ronaldo nor Karl needs to shoulder sole responsibility for their team’s success. Both can contribute their strengths without everything depending solely on them.
“Cristiano is the finisher. He’s not the game-changer,” Müller explained. Portugal continues to rely deliberately on the qualities of its superstar, but now has enough talent to avoid being solely dependent on him. “The Portuguese team doesn’t stand or fall with Cristiano Ronaldo,” said the former Munich player.
The former national team player was particularly impressed by the depth of the Portuguese squad. Müller specifically highlighted Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Vitinha, and João Neves. He considers the two PSG pros, Vitinha and Neves, to be playing at the absolute top level right now.
“When you look at the midfield, it gets you excited. I want to watch that—I actually want to be a part of it,” Müller gushed. He also considers fullback Nuno Mendes to be among the world’s best players at his position right now. For Müller, Portugal is therefore one of the teams that could go very far in the World Cup.
