Lionel Messi and Thomas Müller have shared the biggest stages in global soccer, and both are World Cup champions. Yet, there’s a mutual respect between the two as they play through the twilight of their storied careers in MLS.
On Tuesday, as Messi scored three goals in Argentina’s 3–0 win over Algeria, starting his sixth World Cup and tying Miroslav Klose’s all-time men’s World Cup goal record, Müller watched intently. The German legend and 2014 World Cup winner—a trophy he won against Messi—is working as a TV pundit on this year’s World Cup, broadcasting alongside Jürgen Klopp and other German legends.