Lewandowski and Müller Set for Their First MLS Meeting as Rivals

Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Müller are finally set to share an MLS pitch again, months later than originally planned, when Chicago Fire host Vancouver Whitecaps on Tuesday night — only this time as opponents rather than teammates.

The pair spent eight seasons together at Bayern Munich between 2014 and 2022, winning eight straight Bundesliga titles and the continental treble in 2019-20. During that spell, Müller — Bayern's self-styled "Raumdeuter", or space interpreter — set a Bundesliga record with 42 league assists for Lewandowski alone.

Both have made an instant impact

Since joining Vancouver in August 2025, Müller has returned 19 goals and 11 assists in 45 appearances across all competitions and helped the Whitecaps reach their first-ever MLS Cup appearance. Lewandowski, who joined Chicago this past summer, has scored six and assisted two in his first 11 MLS outings.

• Bayern years together: 2014–2022
• Bundesliga titles won together: 8
• Müller's Bundesliga-record league assists for Lewandowski: 42
• Current form: Müller 19g/11a in 45 games; Lewandowski 6g/2a in 11 games

Plenty still at stake

Lewandowski flew back to Chicago early from international duty with Poland after a yellow-card suspension ruled him out of a Nations League fixture, and head coach Gregg Berhalter said there is no predetermined limit on his minutes for Tuesday. Chicago sit fifth in the Eastern Conference on 42 points, just one behind Charlotte FC in the race for a top-four finish and home advantage in the opening round of the playoffs — giving a nostalgic reunion a genuinely competitive edge.