Thomas Muller Shatters German Record While Propelling Whitecaps FC to Unprecedented Canadian Championship Glory
Following Thomas Müller's arrival at Vancouver Whitecaps FC in August, his goal was to bring silverware to the organization during his two-year deal.
Just under two months after joining the MLS franchise, he has accomplished exactly that, contributing to the Whitecaps' 4–2 victory over Canadian Premier League outfit Vancouver FC, securing the team's fourth consecutive Canadian Championship and earning the 35th trophy of his illustrious career.
Through this Voyageurs Cup triumph, he overtook Toni Kroos to become the most successful German footballer in history, adding the Canadian crown to his collection that features two UEFA Champions League victories and the 2014 World Cup triumph.
"Right now I'm focused more on capturing the Canadian Championship rather than my individual trophy count. It's a pleasant milestone, but ultimately, it's about the connection with the team, with the supporters, and that's what I seek and what brings me joy," Müller shared with media after the game, eager to rejoin the festivities.
"This was another positive step in a crucial match, but at this moment, I want to keep this brief and return to the team to celebrate."
The Whitecaps entered as overwhelming favorites, positioned fifth in MLS while facing the bottom team in the CPL, Canada's top division, which operates at a lower competitive standard and demonstrated that difference.
Müller's incisive through ball found Canadian international forward Ali Ahmed, who netted twice—opening the account in the fifth minute, then converting a spot kick in the 10th minute, establishing a 2–0 advantage and marking his 300th professional goal across spells with the Whitecaps, Bayern Munich and Germany.
"Did you include training ground goals in that tally too?" the 36-year-old German joked as Whitecaps FC personnel presented him with a commemorative 300 goals cake before the Voyageurs Cup ceremony, later stating, "this is a positive day for us, for the Whitecaps. We claimed a final and while we understood we were clear favorites beforehand, we approached it with seriousness from the start, and ultimately, I believe it was a merited victory."
Müller Substituted for Captain's Comeback
It represented a moment Whitecaps fans had eagerly anticipated, as Müller exited the field in the 79th minute and passed the captain's armband to longtime skipper Ryan Gauld to complete the contest.
For Gauld, a Scottish international and pivotal figure for the Whitecaps, this represented his first appearance since March 8, when he sustained a knee problem against CF Montréal, sidelining him for 208 days.
The player known as the MLS "Working Class MVP" wasted no time making his presence felt, finding the net with one of his initial touches before celebrating by placing the ball under his jersey, a gesture he had been saving as he and his partner expect their first child.
"I've been anticipating this moment for quite some time... my partner has been expecting for seven months. I waited extensively to perform that celebration, and I'm delighted it came with my first goal in my comeback match," Gauld expressed post-game. "You never grow weary of claiming trophies, and it's wonderful to secure our fourth consecutive title, and hopefully it won't be our final one this campaign."
Focus Shifts to MLS Cup Playoffs
The Whitecaps plan to gradually increase Gauld's playing time. His comeback alongside Müller's presence should elevate the squad's performance as they prepare for the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs, having already secured a top-four position in the Western Conference.
Wednesday's triumph also earned the Whitecaps entry into the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup, with Vancouver FC potentially qualifying for the competition if the Whitecaps finish among the top four in the MLS Supporters' Shield standings.
However, this also represented the 'Caps' 46th fixture across all competitions this season, though despite an extensive injury roster, this workload doesn't worry them—particularly as they envision a successful nine additional matches, hoping to capture the club's inaugural MLS Cup on December 6 as the ultimate prize.
"I relish having an extended campaign, because that's what I desire in football, to compete, not to relax on vacation," Müller continued. "I believe it's excellent to experience this victorious sensation, to validate that we can claim silverware and persevere through challenging periods.
"I hope this provides us, in this final phase of the season, this collective confidence to achieve something greater. I don't know much about recent Whitecaps playoff history, but the opening playoff round has typically been the final stage, so we aim to advance further, and we'll see what happens, but that's our objective."
The Whitecaps resume MLS action on Saturday versus the San Jose Earthquakes, followed by encounters with Orlando City SC and FC Dallas to conclude the regular campaign, before entering the opening round of the MLS Cup Playoffs, which consists of a best-of-three format.