Lothar Matthäus
German association football player, manager, and pundit (born 1961) · Germany · Footballers
Lothar Matthäus is read about 2,642 times a day, in 78 languages.
A typical day, 30 days to 15 October 2026
The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 390 days, one point a day.
Something wrong?He captained West Germany to the 1990 World Cup title, collected the Ballon d'Or, and became the first FIFA World Player of the Year. Maradona called him "the best rival I've ever had" - from a man who knew rivals.
A life in dates
Also in Deutsch
Photos 7
Matthäus in 1995
Matthäus (pictured in 1999) has won more international caps than any German with 150 and went to nine major international tournaments, serving as captain of the 1990 World Cup champions.
During the 1994 World Cup, Matthäus scored a penalty against Borislav Mihaylov in the quarterfinals against Bulgaria at Giants Stadium, New York City.
Matthäus in Vienna in January 2002.
Matthäus (right) during a friendly match against Serbia in November 2010
The number 10 Inter Milan jersey of Matthäus in the San Siro museumTeams 9
Career record
Awards
In their orbit 4
About this person
Born 21 March 1961, Lothar Herbert Matthäus became the most capped German player in history, retiring with 150 appearances and 23 goals across 20 years. He won UEFA Euro 1980, then appeared at five World Cups between 1982 and 1998 - the first outfield player to do so. After lifting the trophy in 1990 and claiming the Ballon d'Or, he was named the inaugural FIFA World Player of the Year in 1991, an award no other German has won. A box-to-box midfielder known for perceptive passing, positional sense, and powerful shooting, he shifted to sweeper late in his career. In 1999, at 38, he was voted German Footballer of the Year for the second time. Pelé named him to the FIFA 100; the Ballon d'Or Dream Team added him in 2020.
In common with Lothar
Gary LinekerAlso in Return to Turin - Italia ‘90 (2020)
John BarnesAlso in Return to Turin - Italia ‘90 (2020)
Andy TownsendAlso in Return to Turin - Italia ‘90 (2020)
Jim RosenthalAlso in Return to Turin - Italia ‘90 (2020)
Gerd MüllerBoth received German Football Hall of Fame
Franck RibéryBoth received German Footballer of the YearFame.am measures public visibility signals. It does not measure human value, talent, morality, or credibility.