Thomas Mueller could leave Brazil with another Golden Boot, but all the Bavarian boy-next-door really cares about is winning Sunday’s final to take the World Cup home to Germany.
The 24-year-old has come a long way since Diego Maradona famously mistook him for a ball boy after his Germany debut in a 1-0 defeat to Argentina in Munich in 2010.
Mueller had the last laugh in Cape Town four months later when Germany romped to a 4-0 win over Maradona’s Argentina in the World Cup quarter-finals.
Germany finished third at the last World Cup and Mueller left South Africa with both the Golden Boot and the best young player award.
Four years on, Maradona dubbed Mueller ‘El Flaco’ -- the Skinny One -- after the German’s hat-trick in the 4-0 win over Portugal in the opening group match.
But unlike the controversial Maradona, Mueller is not a complicated character.
So is he a striker or a midfielder?
“No idea,” was his simple reply.
It does not really matter to him, just like the prospect of leaving Brazil with another Golden Boot after claiming five goals and three assists, his exact same tally from four years ago.
“It’s only relevant in that the more goals I score for Germany, the higher our chance of winning the title,” he said.
Mueller’s strength is his running.
In his 562 World Cup minutes, he has covered 68.8kilometres -- the most in the German squad -- but off the field, he is regarded as the squad’s clown.
Mueller becomes deadly serious when asked how Sunday’s final will compare to his three Champions League final appearances with Bayern.
“A World Cup final is the biggest game that a footballer can experience,” he said.
“It comes only every four years and stands head and shoulders over a Champions League final.
“Just as large is the anticipation before it.”