Lothar Matthäus

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Matthäus was the first outfield player, and second overall after Antonio Carbajal, to appear at five FIFA World Cups (1982, 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1998). He also won UEFA Euro 1980. He is the most capped German player of all time, with 150 appearances and 23 goals. He is a member of the FIFA 100 list. Diego Maradona said of him, 'He is the best rival I've ever had.'

In Their Own Story

In the 1991 UEFA Cup final, Matthäus stepped up to take a penalty in the first leg against Roma. The San Siro crowd held its breath as he calmly slotted the ball home, helping Inter secure a victory that would lead to their first European trophy in over two decades. His performance that season earned him the FIFA World Player of the Year award, a testament to his influence on the pitch.

Reader's Guide

Matthäus started his professional career in 1979 with Borussia Mönchengladbach, then played for Bayern Munich from 1984 to 1988, winning two Bundesliga titles and the DFB-Pokal. He signed with Inter Milan in 1988, winning the Scudetto in 1988–89 and the UEFA Cup in 1991. He returned to Bayern Munich in 1992, winning four Bundesliga titles, two DFB-Pokals, and another UEFA Cup. He played for the MetroStars in 2000 before retiring.

Did You Know?

• Matthäus scored a penalty in the second leg of the 1991 UEFA Cup final, not the first leg.
• He is not the only German to win FIFA World Player of the Year; Oliver Kahn also won in 2002.
• His club tenure included two separate spells at Bayern Munich (1984–1988 and 1992–2000), not a single continuous period.