Müller’s fellow FCB men are well aware of his quality. “As we all know, Thomas always keeps an eye open for a team-mate, and he sets them up in good positions. He has real instinct and takes the right decisions,” captain Manuel Neuer said after the final whistle.

Thomas Müller inspired his team-mates to match-winning moments early on in Sunday’s 4-1 victory in Cologne. In the third minute, the 30-year-old expertly set up Robert Lewandowski’s opener, and just two minutes later acted as provider for Kingsley Coman to hand the Bavarians their earliest 2-0 lead in almost 20 years (since a 3-0 victory over Energie Cottbus).

They were assists numbers 13 and 14 in the current Bundesliga season for the World Cup winner, who has thus set another record in the German top flight: since detailed data collection began in 2004/05, no player has directly set up so many goals after 22 matchdays.

Personal best already equalled

With this yield, Müller has equalled his personal assist record from the entire 2017/18 Bundesliga season, with the current campaign only two-thirds old. The forward’s current form suggests there are plenty more assists to come. In Cologne alone, he set up a total of seven shooting opportunities for his team-mates, comfortably the most of any player on the pitch.

Bayern’s strong display away to FC Köln: the match report: