Chris Mueller (soccer)

Christopher Mueller (born August 29, 1996) is an American soccer player who plays as a winger for Orlando City in MLS and the United States national team. Following a collegiate career at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Mueller was the sixth overall pick of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft, joining Orlando City.

Chris Mueller
Personal information
Full name Christopher Mueller
Date of birth (1996-08-29) August 29, 1996
Place of birth Schaumburg, Illinois, United States
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Winger
Club information
Current team
 Orlando City
Number 9
Youth career
2004–2013 Chicago Sockers
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2017 Wisconsin Badgers 75 (22)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016 Des Moines Menace 2 (0)
2017 Chicago FC United 9 (4)
2018– Orlando City 83 (18)
National team‡
2020– United States 2 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of November 8, 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of January 31, 2021

Club career

Youth and college

Mueller grew up in Schaumburg, Illinois and played college soccer at the University of Wisconsin from 2014 to 2017, scoring 22 goals in 75 regular season matches.[1] In 2016, Mueller was selected to the All-America third-team and the All-Big Ten first team.[2] In 2017, Mueller was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, as well as being selected to the All-Big Ten first team[3] and the All-America second-team.[4]

Orlando City

Mueller was drafted as the sixth overall pick of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft by Orlando City SC.[5] He made his professional debut on March 3, 2018 in a season-opening 1–1 draw with D.C. United.[6] On April 8, 2018, Mueller scored his first professional goal against Portland Timbers in a 3–2 victory.[7] On April 21, 2018, Mueller scored the fastest goal in Orlando City history when he scored 63 seconds into a match against the San Jose Earthquakes, and later in the match he recorded his first professional assist.[8] Mueller was runner-up for the 2018 MLS Rookie of the Year Award.[9]

On March 2, 2019, Mueller started in his second consecutive season opener, scoring in a 2–2 against New York City FC. He scored his first U.S. Open Cup goal against the same opposition on July 10, 2019 in a 1–1 quarter-final draw before Orlando progressed to their first ever semi-final on penalties. In July 2019, Mueller was part of the Orlando City team alongside Nani and Sebas Méndez that won the 2019 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge, beating teams from the MLS All-Stars and Atlético Madrid to win the $25,000 prize for charity with Mueller notably the only player to successfully complete a scissors kick during the volleys round.

On March 7, 2020, Mueller scored Orlando's first goal of the season in a 2–1 away loss to Colorado Rapids.[10] With the season affected by the coronavirus pandemic, a return to play was achieved through the MLS is Back Tournament. Mueller scored in the opening game as Orlando beat newly-formed rivals Inter Miami CF 2–1 before scoring a brace in the following game, a 3–1 victory over New York City FC.[11] He finished the 2020 season as the team's top scorer with a career-high 10 goals.

International

In November 2020, having never appeared on any level for the U.S. national team, Mueller was called up to the United States senior team for a friendly against El Salvador.[12] He made his debut starting the game on December 9, scoring twice, registering one assist and was named man of the match in a 6–0 victory.[13][14]

Career statistics

College
School Season NCAA Regular Season Big 10 Tournament NCAA Tournament Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAssistsAppsGoalsAssistsAppsGoalsAssistsAppsGoalsAssists
University of Wisconsin–Madison 2014 Div. I 16011000001701
2015 19531000002053
2016 1981131100022912
2017 21920312304271026
NCAA Total 752235823304862443

Club
As of November 29, 2020
Club Season League Cup Playoffs Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Orlando City 2018 MLS 32320——343
2019 29541——336
2020 221000204[lower-alpha 1]02810
Career total 83186120409519
  1. MLS is Back Tournament knockout stage.

International
As of January 31, 2021
United States
YearAppsGoals
202012
202110
Total22

International goals
As of match played December 9, 2020. United States score listed first, score column indicates score after each Mueller goal.
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 December 9, 2020[13] Inter Miami CF Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, United States 1  El Salvador 2–0 6–0 Friendly
2 4–0

References
  1. "Men's Soccer – Chris Mueller – 2017". uwbadgers.com. Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  2. "Mueller named to NSCAA All-America team". University of Wisconsin.
  3. "Mueller named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year". University of Wisconsin.
  4. "Chris Mueller becomes two-time All-American". University of Wisconsin.
  5. "Orlando City Selects Forward Chris Mueller in 2018 MLS SuperDraft". orlandocitysc.com. Major League Soccer. January 19, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  6. "Orlando City SC 1, DC United 1 2018 MLS Match Recap". mlssoccer.com. MLS. March 3, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  7. "Orlando City SC 3, Portland Timbers 2 2018 MLS Match Recap". mlssoccer.com. MLS. April 8, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  8. "Lions Defeat San Jose for 4th Straight Win". April 21, 2018.
  9. "Real Salt Lake's Corey Baird wins 2018 AT&T MLS Rookie of the Year". November 5, 2018.
  10. "Colorado Rapids 2, Orlando City SC 1 2020 MLS Match Recap". mlssoccer.com.
  11. Butler, Dylan. "Why Orlando City SC's self-made athlete Chris Mueller is off to a hot start at MLS is Back Tournament". www.mlssoccer.com.
  12. "Berhalter Calls 22 Players ahead of USA-El Salvador on Dec. 9 at Inter Miami FC Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale". www.ussoccer.com. November 30, 2020.
  13. "USA 6 - El Salvador 0: Match Report & Stats". www.ussoccer.com. December 9, 2020.
  14. Fernandez, Andre. "Chris Mueller leads six-goal barrage as U.S. men's national soccer team defeats El Salvador in friendly". USA TODAY.
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