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 remains one of only seven male players to have done so. He also won UEFA Euro 1980, and played in the 1984, 1988 and 2000 UEFA European Championships. In 1999, aged 38, Matthäus was again voted German Footballer of the Year, having previously won the award in 1990. Matthäus is the most capped German player of all time, retiring with a total of 150 appearances (83 for West Germany) in 20 years, and 23 goals. He is a member of the FIFA 100 list of the greatest living football players chosen by Pelé. Diego Maradona said of Matthäus, 'He is the best rival I've ever had. I guess that's enough to define him.'

In Their Own Story

The Stadio Olimpico in Rome hummed with tension as the 1990 World Cup Final neared its climax. West Germany held a slender lead against Argentina, but the pressure was immense. Matthäus stood at the heart of the defense, eyes locked on Maradona. He wasn't just defending; he was dismantling Argentine hope with every intercept and tackle. When Brehme stepped up to convert the decisive penalty in the 85th minute, it was Matthäus's calm leadership that steadied the squad. As the final whistle cut through the noise, West Germany stood tall, crowned by a captain who had conquered football's biggest stage five times.

Reader's Guide

A versatile and complete player, Matthäus is regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all time, and was renowned for his perceptive passing, positional sense and well-timed tackling, as well as his powerful shooting. During his career, he usually played as a box-to-box midfielder, although late in his career he played as a sweeper. He started his professional career in 1979 with Borussia Mönchengladbach, then played for Bayern Munich from 1984 to 1988, winning the Bundesliga twice and the DFB-Pokal. He signed with Inter Milan in 1988, winning the Scudetto in 1988–89, the Italian Supercup that year, and the UEFA Cup in 1991, scoring a penalty in the first leg of the final. Returning to Bayern Munich in 1992, he won four Bundesliga titles, two DFB-Pokals, another UEFA Cup, and reached a second European Cup final in 1999. He moved to the MetroStars in 2000, making 16 appearances and scoring 0 goals, and retired from professional football afterwards.

Did You Know?

• Matthäus was the first outfield player to appear at five FIFA World Cups.
• He is the only German to have won the FIFA World Player of the Year award.
• He scored a penalty in the 1991 UEFA Cup final to help Inter Milan win.
• Matthäus was substituted in the 80th minute of the 1999 Champions League final before Manchester United scored two late goals.