Lothar Herbert Matthäus is a German football pundit and former professional player and manager. Widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time, he captained the West Germany to victory in the 1990 FIFA World Cup where he lifted the FIFA World Cup Trophy and was awarded the Ballon d'Or. In 1991, he was named the first FIFA World Player of the Year, and remains the only German to have received the award. He was also included in the Ballon d'Or Dream Team in 2020.
Matthäus in 2019
Matthäus in 1995
Matthäus has won more Germany caps than anyone else with 150, and went to nine major international tournaments, captaining the 1990 World Cup-winning team.
During the 1994 World Cup, Matthäus scored a penalty kick against Bulgarian goalkeeper Borislav Mihaylov in a quarter final match at Giants Stadium in New York City.
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team represents Germany in men's international football and played its first match in 1908. The team is governed by the German Football Association, founded in 1900. Between 1949 and 1990, separate German national teams were recognised by FIFA due to Allied occupation and division: the DFB's team representing the Federal Republic of Germany, the Saarland team representing the Saar Protectorate (1950–1956) and the East Germany team representing the German Democratic Republic (1952–1990). The latter two were absorbed along with their records; the present team represents the reunified Federal Republic. The official name and code "Germany FR (FRG)" was shortened to "Germany (GER)" following reunification in 1990.
Germany national team at its first official international match in 1908
Gottfried Fuchs
Helmut Rahn scored the winning goal in the 1954 FIFA World Cup final.
The 1974 FIFA World Cup Final on 7 July, in Munich's Olympiastadion