Germany legend Gerd Muller has backed his namesake Thomas to become the World Cup's all-time top goalscorer.
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Muller scored a hat trick as Joachim Low's side began their World Cup campaign with a 4-0 demolition of Portugal on Monday, taking his World Cup tally to eight goals in just seven appearances.
Ronaldo holds the all-time World Cup record with 15 goals -- a tally veteran Germany attacker Miroslav Klose is only one behind, with his 14-goal haul the same as Gerd Muller's.
Klose, playing in his fourth World Cup, was an unused substitute against Portugal, with Thomas Muller taking his place.
And namesake Gerd told Sport Bild: "I am convinced that Thomas Muller will nab the World Cup goal record, because he still has two or three more World Cups in him."
He said he had his "fingers crossed" that Muller, who won the Golden Boot as the top scorer in the 2010 tournament, could defend that title.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who was at the Portugal match, visited the Germany dressing room where she praised the players -- and told Muller to keep on scoring goals.
"We exchanged a few words," the Bayern player told Bild. "She does expect a couple more goals. But I don't have to score three in every match -- she'd prefer it if I divided them into several games."