When Thomas Müller signed with Vancouver Whitecaps FC in August, he aimed to lead the club to trophies over the course of his two-year contract.
Less than two months into his time with the MLS club, he’s done just that, helping the Whitecaps to a 4–2 win over Canadian Premier League side Vancouver FC, claiming the club’s fourth straight Canadian Championship and winning the 35th title of his career.
With the Voyageurs Cup win, he surpassed Toni Kroos as the most decorated German player ever, adding the Canadian title to his resume, which is highlighted by two UEFA Champions League titles and the 2014 World Cup.
“Today I feel more about winning the Canadian Championship and not my personal collection of trophies. It’s a nice number, but in the end, it’s the feeling with the boys, with the crowds, and that’s what I’m looking for and what’s enjoyable for me,” Müller told reporters post-match, while rushing to get back to the celebrations.
“It was another good step in a decisive game, but at the moment, I just want to keep it short and go back to the boys to celebrate.”
The Whitecaps were heavy favourites entering the match, sitting fifth in MLS while taking on the last-place team in the CPL, the Canadian first division, which features a lower level of play and looked the part.
Müller’s piercing pass set up Canadian international winger Ali Ahmed, who scored a brace—in the fifth minute to open the scoring, before netting a penalty in the 10th minute, marking the 2–0 lead and the 300th goal of his professional career with the Whitecaps, Bayern Munich and Germany.
“Did you count the goals in training too?” the 36-year-old German quipped as Whitecaps FC staff handed him a celebratory 300 goals cake ahead of the Voyageurs Cup trophy presentation, before adding later, “today is a good day for us, for the Whitecaps. We won a final and I know we were the clear favourites before this game, but we took it seriously from the beginning, and I think in the end, it was a well-deserved win.”
