Thomas Müller could be nearing the end of his extraordinary professional career. The longtime Bayern star is under contract with the Vancouver Whitecaps through the end of the year. Whether the 37-year-old will continue playing or retire is currently completely up in the air.
Müller himself is already considering the question, but does not want to make a decision just yet. During a Whitecaps media session, the 2014 World Cup champion made it clear that several factors are at play for him.
“I’m thinking about a lot of things, but right now I’m fully focused on the upcoming games,” Müller explained. His physical condition apparently plays a key role in this: “Let’s see what my body tells me over the next few weeks, and then we’ll take it from there. There’s a lot going on, and I don’t have a concrete answer right now.”
“The whole package is incredibly important”
Müller left FC Bayern in the summer of 2025 after 25 years and joined the Vancouver Whitecaps. In his very first season in North America, he won the Canadian Cup with his new club. In the MLS Cup, Vancouver didn’t lose until the final against Inter Miami.
Müller doesn’t base his decision on what comes next after his current contract expires solely on athletic factors. “It’s always about my personal situation, the contract, the city where we live, the team’s prospects, and my physical condition—in other words, my body,” explained the former Bayern pro.
For Müller, therefore, the big picture is what counts. “The whole package— [ist] —is enormously important. I feel very comfortable here and have fun with the team. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens next.”
With this statement, the 37-year-old is keeping his options open—both for continuing his career and for potentially ending it.
Müller—The Mission Isn’t Over Yet
Before a decision is made, however, Müller still has sporting goals to pursue with Vancouver. The team has already been eliminated from the Canadian Cup, but things are going much better in the MLS. The Whitecaps lead the Western Conference and are thus on track for the playoffs.
Müller is therefore currently thinking less about his personal farewell than about potential success with his team. “I want this team to get better. The mission isn’t over yet,” the Bayern legend made clear.
The regular MLS season runs through early November, and the playoff final takes place on December 18. A decision on Müller’s future could therefore come very late in the year.
The only thing that’s certain so far is that Müller is listening closely to his body. Whether that results in another season in Vancouver or the actual end of his professional career is something he plans to decide in the coming weeks.