Welcome to #Euro2016Rank, a weeklong look at the top 25 players we expect to see at the European Championship. Over 50 ESPN FC experts and writers from across the globe voted, and we're rolling out the results right up to opening day, when France plays Romania on June 10.
Why is Thomas Muller in the top 25?
Unorthodox and almost impossible to categorise as a player, given that he is neither pure striker, winger nor midfielder, what he has guaranteed throughout his career is goals at the highest level. In his two World Cup tournaments so far, he has scored 10 goals -- and all by the age of 25, by which time he was also celebrating having won the 2014 finals in Brazil. At South Africa 2010, his breakthrough, he won the golden boot with five goals and three assists. That happened at the end of his first full season as a Bayern Munich first-teamer and he has barely looked back since.
What the experts say:
"Even if [Franck] Ribery and [Arjen] Robben are available, Muller will always play in my team." -- Louis van Gaal on the 20-year-old Muller in 2009.
"Thomas is irreplaceable. He is an absolute role model for Bayern, a person everybody can identify with. A lot of teams would love to have a player like Thomas in their team. He is a real gem." -- Bayern sporting director Matthias Sammer, November 2015.
Career highlight:
Opening the scoring in the 11th minute, Muller began the deluge of goals that led to Germany beating Brazil 7-1 in the semifinal of the 2014 World Cup, the most amazing scoreline in World Cup history. He had already scored a hat trick in his country's 4-0 opening defeat of Portugal.
Stat of the season:
Muller finished as Germany's top scorer in qualifying with nine goals in nine appearances.
What next for Muller after Euro 2016?
Bayern have him contracted until 2021 and are unlikely to ever wish to sell him.
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