Mario Gómez

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Gómez began his professional career with VfB Stuttgart. When the team won the Bundesliga in 2006–07, Gómez contributed 14 goals and 7 assists and was selected as German Footballer of the Year. In 2009, he signed for Bayern Munich for an estimated €30–35 million, a league record at the time. With Bayern, Gómez was the Bundesliga top scorer in 2011 and helped the team win seven trophies, including the UEFA Champions League in 2013. He left for Serie A team Fiorentina in 2013 and was affected by injury during his time in Italy. Gómez was loaned to Turkey's Beşiktaş in 2015 and was top scorer as the club won the Süper Lig. He subsequently returned to Germany by joining Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg for the 2016–17 season, helping them avoid relegation. He rejoined Stuttgart the season after, helping them achieve promotion to the Bundesliga after the 2019–20 campaign.

In Their Own Story

On 13 March 2012, the pressure was immense as Bayern Munich faced Basel in the Champions League round of 16. After losing the first leg away, Bayern needed a miracle at home. Gómez delivered it with a performance for the ages, netting four of Bayern's seven goals to secure a 7–1 aggregate victory and a quarter-final spot. The narrative continued into April when he scored the winning goal in the first leg against Real Madrid, helping Bayern advance to the Champions League final. Although they ultimately fell to Chelsea on penalties after a 1–1 draw in regular time, Gómez's contribution was vital. Earlier that season, he had signed a new contract on 4 April 2012, committing his future to the club until 2016. His journey also included a memorable 10 January match in India, where he scored the opening goal in a 4–0 victory over the Indian national team in a farewell game for Baichung Bhutia.

Reader's Guide

Gómez made his international debut for Germany in February 2007 and was included in their squads for three UEFA European Championships and two FIFA World Cups, finishing as top scorer at UEFA Euro 2012. He retired from international football in 2018.

Did You Know?

• Gómez scored 13 hat-tricks in his Bundesliga career, three with VfB Stuttgart and ten with Bayern.
• He scored his 100th Bundesliga goal with a hat-trick against FC St. Pauli on 7 May 2011.
• Gómez scored four goals in a 7–0 win over Basel in the 2011–12 Champions League round of 16 second leg.