Top 10 Greatest German Footballers of All Time

One of the all-time soccer superpowers,

has won numerous accolades in World Cups. Since the German Football Association was established in 1900, the nation has gained immeasurable prestige in the sport.

Germany is one of the most successful national teams in international competitions, having won a total of four World Cups in 1954, 1974, 1990, and 2014, as well as three European Championships in 1972, 1980, and 1996. Over the years, Mannschaft has produced numerous footballers whose names will go down in football history. Amazing athletes with the most prestigious club and international careers over the years.

We first noticed Franz Beckenbauer and Matthias Sammer as sweeper players. Then there is another one with his unusual ability to spot openings. Thomas Muller has transformed the second striker position in whole.

German soccer is recognizable for its emphasis on team play. Germany enjoys teamwork and rarely depends on just one or two people to produce its impressive results.

They have produced some outstanding football players over the years who have gone on to become legends. Along with winning competitions and trophies for their teams, these players have won over millions of fans worldwide with their incredible performances.

It was extremely challenging to select top 10 greatest German footballers of all time from among the dozens of elite and decorated footballers in German history. It was a laborious task to leave out players with legendary careers, including Jurgen Klinsmann, Helmut Rahn, Pierre Littbarski, Wolfgang Overath, Gunter Netzer, Michael Ballack, Jurgen Kohler, Karl-Heinz Schnellinger, Paul Breitner, Phillipp Lahm, Andreas Brehme, Thomas Muller,

, Oliver Kahn, and many others.

The top 10 greatest German footballers of all time

Sportmob looks at the list of top 10 German players in history. In this article, we have brought you the top ten German football superstars ever.

10. Matthias Sammer

• Date of birth

  : Sep 5, 1967

• Place of birth

  : Dresden

• Height

  : 1,81 m

• Position

  : Sweeper- Defensive Midfielder

• Foot

  : right

Matthias Sammer, born in East Germany, played his first international game for West Germany in 1990. West-Germany players captured the FIFA World Cup 1990, but Sammer debuted on 19 December 1990 after the unification of Germany. His debut game took place In Stuttgart where Germany dominated a 4-0 win against Switzerland at home.

He played as a defensive midfielder in the European Championship 1992 and his side finished as runners-up losing against Denmark. In 1993, Sammer was transferred to

and changed his role to sweeper.

His state of mind on the field and his skills as a sweeper to interpret the game put him in touch with some of the world's best footballers ever. Sammer was appointed Player of the Tournament when they defeated the Czech Republic in the Euro 1996 final.

Sammer lifted three Bundesliga trophies, two in Borussia Dortmund one at Stuttgart, whereas two DFB Supercups and one Champions League were also captured. Sammer is mainly one of the most decorated players in the history of German football and one of the greatest German footballers of all time.

Sammer was a part of the EUFA Euro 1992 German team, where the team was defeated by Denmark in the final. The player was listed for the FIFA World Cup 1994 as Germany was eliminated in the quarter-final stage by Bulgaria.

Sammer was involved with the libero position in UEFA Euro 1996 just like in Dortmund Borussia in that season.

In the second group game against Russia and in the quarter-final against

he scored important goals and finally was named Player of the tournament after Germany won the final game against the Czech Republic and was awarded the Ballon d'Or in the same year. In a 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Ukraine Sammer played his final game for Germany. Sammer retired with 74 caps, twenty-three for East Germany and fifty-one for the unified team.

9. Uwe Seeler

• Date of birth

  : Nov 5, 1936

• Place of birth

  : Hamburg  Germany

• Height

  : 1,70 m

• Position

  : Forward - Centre-Forward

• Foot

  : right

He was a successful

scoring machine and took part in the West Germany squad at seventy-two occasions. In 2004, he was named as one of the 125 best living footballers by Pele.

He is also known as one of the greatest German footballers of all time. Uwe Seeler was the first soccer player to receive the Federal Republic of Germany's Great Order of Merit. 

In the same four FIFA World Cups, just like Pele, Seeler played; 1958, 1962, 1966, and 1970. The 1966 team reached the final game where they infamously lost 4–2 against England.

The German side came fourth in 1958 and they came third in 1970, after being defeated in the semifinals by

, a match often called "the Game of the Century" which saw Germany a 4-3 extra-time loss.

Perhaps Seeler's most significant international goal was in the last round against England which made the score 2–2.

Uwe Seeler never won a World Cup but he had a successful career in the competition, having been the first player to play in 20 World Cup games with 21 matches overall, he is third of all-time.

Indeed, the unlucky player started 4 years after Germany lifted their first World Cup in 1954 and retired 4 years ahead of their second championship in 1974.

Across all decades, he still places 3rd behind Paolo Maldini and Lothar Matthaus in all-time minutes played in World Cups with 1980.

All in all, he scored 9 goals in the 4 World Cups in addition to 3 goals in World Cup qualifying games. Seeler scored 43 goals in 72 international games. In the 1966 World Cup Final, a picture of a disappointed Seeler was selected Image of the Century by Kicker.

His 406 goals in German league matches has remained a record which places him second only to Gerd Muller in the German football history.

8. Bastian Schweinsteiger

• Date of birth

  : Aug 1, 1984

• Place of birth

  : Kolbermoor  Germany

• Height

  : 1,83 m

• Position

  : Midfielder - Central Midfield

• Foot

  : right

After his impressive appearance in the 2014 World Cup final against Argentina, Bastian Schweinsteiger registered his name in German football history as one of the

greatest German footballers of all time

.

Schweinsteiger started as a winger but gradually turned into a central midfielder. In the span of 13 years, he played for Bayern Munich's first-team squad and was considered one of the best midfielders across those years. Bastian  Schweinsteiger had a powerful shot, great vision, and fantastic passing ability.

The German is one of the

having eight Bundesliga trophies to his name. He had completed 17 campaigns with 500 games for Bayern Munich and netted 68 goals.

He won 8 league trophies, 7 DFB-Cup championships, UEFA Champions League trophy, a world cup FIFA Club title, and a UEFA Super Cup. In 2015, he joined Man United and spent 18 months before leaving for Chicago Fire in MLS.

In October 2019, he confirmed his retirement. For the German national team he played between 2004 and 2016. Having played 121 international games and scored 24 goals, he is Germany's fourth most-capped footballer in history. 

He was picked for 4 European Championships and 3 world cups one of which results in winning the title. He was also commonly recognized to be one of the greatest players of the triumphant campaign playing an essential role in defending

in that game.

On 2 September 2014, Schweinsteiger was named National Team Captain after Philipp Lahm's international retirement. On 31 August 2016, he played his last game against Finland after which he decided to retire from international soccer.

7. Sepp Maier

• Name in home country

  : Josef Dieter Maier

• Date of birth

  : Feb 28, 1944

• Place of birth

  : Metten  Germany

• Height

  : 185 m

• Position

  : Goalkeeper

• Foot

  : right

When it comes to goalkeepers, Germany has been equipped with greatest ones, including Oliver Kahn and

who are regarded as the best goalies of their generation. Sepp Maier was considered as the world's greatest goalkeeper in the 1970s. He kept the four clean sheets at the 1974 World Cup as they lifted the trophy-winning against the Dutch team influenced by Johan Cruyff.

He also played for Germany two years prior when the Germans won the first European Championships. Thrice German Footballer of the Year spent his entire career with Bayern Munich as a professional player.

He won the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal 4 times during his 19 years with the club and played nearly 400 consecutive games. He is known as the all-time greatest goalkeeper in Germany and in addition to his ability to stopping shots, he was also renowned for his ability to control his box.

Due to his sense of humor and charisma, he was a fan favorite footballer. The Cat of Anzing once stated: "a goalkeeper should give up a sense of calm, and he should not fall asleep while doing so."

6. Fritz Walter

• Name in home country

  : Friedrich Walter

• Date of birth

  : Oct 31, 1920

• Place of birth

  : Kaiserslautern  Germany

• Date of death

  : 17.06.2002 (81)

• Position

  : Midfielder - Attacking Midfield

• Foot

  : right

Fritz Walter is one of the greatest German footballers of all time. An important prize is now named after him awarded to the best German player; Last recently, Kuhn and

won the prize.

The only team Walter played for was Kaiserslautern, local team of the place he born. Walter netted 357 goals in 364 matches for Kaiserslautern capturing the German championships prior to the Bundesliga's foundation.

He led the Germans to the World Cup Final in 1954, where they defeated Hungary 3-2. He typically played as a second striker. Walter played 61 international games and netted 33 goals, and was skipper of the team which won the FIFA World Cup in 1954. 

Fritz and Ottmar were the first siblings to win the World Cup together. He was honored as the most exceptional player of his country over the last 50 years and was acknowledged at the UEFA Jubilee Awards in 2004.

5. Miroslav Klose

• Name in home country

  : Miroslaw Marian Jozef Kloze

• Date of birth

  : Jun 9, 1978

• Place of birth

  : Opole  Poland

• Height

  : 1,84 m

• Position

  : Forward - Centre-Forward

• Foot

  : right

Miroslav Klose is the player who broke the record of Ronaldo Nazario in 2014 World Cup netting 16 World Cup soccer goals outperforming the Brazilian after overcoming Gerd Muller's tally as Germany's top scorer. It is difficult to find many strikers like him at scoring goals in the box.

He is generally considered as one of his generation's greatest strikers and holds the amazing record for most FIFA World Cup goals. His football career with the German national team is better known than his club career.

Klose was a member of the Germany squad which won the FIFA world cup 2014, having recently completed the second and third three times. Salto-Klose is the leading goal scorer at the FIFA World Cup with 5 in 2002 World Cup, 5 goals in the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

He also netted four times at the 2010 World Cup and two more at the 2014 World Cup, overtaking Ronaldo's then-fifteen goal-record of all time. Klose is also Germany's most successful all-time goal scorer whose team never lost a single game in which he had scored.

He is one of the greatest German footballers ever and one of very few footballers in the history to win the world cup medals for gold, silver, and bronze. On 11 August 2014, soon after Germany won the World Cup 2014, he retired from the national football.

Klose was less prolific but always a trustworthy goal machine at the club level. After his debut for FC 08 Homburg, he played for Kaiserslautern, Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga and for Lazio in Serie A. He lifted league trophies and cup competitions with Bayern Munich, Werder Bremen, and

as well.

4. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge

• Date of birth

  : Sep 25, 1955

• Place of birth

  : Lippstadt  Germany

• Height

  : 1,82 m

• Position

  : Forward - Centre-Forward

• Foot

  : right

Rummenigge is one of the greatest German footballers of all time. He has ensured that the clinical instincts of Germany's offense have been continuous at the international level following the footsteps of Walter, Seeler, and Muller.

The sixty-six-year-old netted nine goals at three World Cup competitions including a hat-trick against

in 1982. He became the second-best goal scorer ever for Bayern Munich behind Gerd Muller. Surprisingly, he left his job at the bank to sign for Bayern Munich in 1974.

In 1980 and 1981, he won the Ballon d'Or for his club and country displays. He had his top favorite achievement with the German giants Bayern Munich, capturing two European Cups, an Intercontinental Cup, and two league titles.

Rummenigge won the 1980 European Championship with West Germany and was a part of the team which completed runner-up at the 1986 World Cup and 1982 FIFA World Cup. Twice European Footballer of the Year played in the World Cup in Argentina in 1978, in Spain in 1982, and in Mexico in 1986.

West Germany eliminated in the second group stage in 1978. They finished runner-up behind Italy and Argentina in 1982 and 1986. Two European Championship competitions were also played by Rummenigge where West Germany beat

2-1 in the 1980 tournament in Italy and won the title.

All in all, Rummenigge played 95 international matches for Germany between 1976 and 1986 and netted 45 goals.

3. Lothar Matthaus

• Name in home country

  : Lothar Herbert Matthaus

• Date of birth

  : Mar 21, 1961

• Place of birth

  : Erlangen  Germany

• Height

  : 1,74 m

• Position

  : Midfielder - Defensive Midfield

• Foot

  : right

Lothar Matthaus is one of the greatest German footballers of all time. Germany's record appearance maker by distance with 150 caps which includes winning the World Cup 1990 and Euro 1980, along with finishing World Cup '82 and '86 as runner-up.

Matthaus was a charismatic midfielder who led Germany to beat Argentina with Diego Maradona at the 1990 World Cup. The leadership of Matthaus in that tournament is something that can be lauded where he scored 4 goals as well.

In two different periods, between 1984-1988 and 1992-2000, Matthaus won 7 league championships with Bayern Munich in addition to one Serie A and a UEFA Cup trophy with

.

He was appointed as European Footballer of the Year after leading West Germany in 1990 at the FIFA World Cup; winning the title. He became the first FIFA World Player of the Year 1991 and is the only German to be awarded ever.

Matthaus registered his name in five FIFA World Cups squad and held the record along with Antonio Carbajal ahead of the 2018 World Cup when Rafael Marquez equaled the tally. With 25 games he still holds the record for the most World Cup matches played of all time.

He was named German Footballer of the Year once again in 1999, at the age of 38. Through 20 years, he played in 150 international matches and scored 23 goals. Loddar is considered by many as the best central midfielder ever.

Matthaus is a part of the FIFA 100 list of the best living soccer players composed by Pele. "He is the greatest opponent I have had in my entire career and I think that's enough to describe him," stated Diego Maradona in his book Yo soy el Diego.    

Regarding his style of play, Matthaus was a flexible midfielder known for his passing ability, tactical sense, strong tackling, and solid shooting force. He usually performed as a box-to-box midfielder throughout his career, yet he did play as a sweeper late in his career as well.

2. Gerd Muller

• Name in home country

  : Gerhard Muller

• Date of birth

  : Nov 3, 1945

• Place of birth

  : Nordlingen  Germany

• Height

  : 1,76 m

• Position

  : Forward - Centre-Forward

• Foot

  : right

Not much scoring records are out there that Gerd Muller already doesn't hold. The renowned goalscorer shares Germany's leading position with Miroslav Klose, but in far fewer appearances he achieved the tally.

In comparison, his 566 goals make him the top goalscorer ever in Bayern Munich, while his goals-to-games rate is untouchable in the European Cup history. The ambitious forward scored 10 goals during the 1970 World Cup including hat tricks against

and Bulgaria.

Such accomplishments secured the gold ballon d'Or the year before he assisted the Germans in capturing Euro 1972. He scored doubles in the semifinal as well as the final game.

Afterward, he completed his international career netting four goals at the point when West Germany won the World Cup of 1974. Gerd Muller has been hailed as one of the greatest soccer players of all time and is recognized as one of the greatest German footballers of all time.

There's nothing that Muller hasn't accomplished in football. At the international stage, with 68 goals in 62 games, modern-day strikers in Germany can still be inspired by him. 

Muller's scoring record has seen him win the same awards as Sepp Maier although his goals for Bavarians have seen him secure four Bundesliga championships and three European Cups.

1. Franz Beckenbauer

• Name in home country

  : Franz Anton Beckenbauer

• Date of birth

  : Sep 11, 1945

• Place of birth

  : Munchen  Germany

• Height

  : 1,81 m

• Position

  : Defender - Sweeper

• Foot

  : right

Franz Beckenbauer is considered as one of the best soccer players of all time. A central defender who could play as a midfielder as well. Nowadays, the position of the modern sweeper or libero is credited to his name.

Twice European Footballer of the year played for West Germany 103 times, displaying his outstanding form in 3 FIFA World Cups and two European Championships.

In 1974, he won the World Cup title as Captain and once again in 1990 as German's head coach. Along with Mario Zagallo and France's Didier Deschamps, he is one of the three men to win the tournament both as player and manager.

He was the first skipper at the international and club level to win the World Cup trophy and European Championship. He is one of the greatest German footballers of all time; For me, even the best one!.

Beckenbauer was named in the FIFA World Cup Dream Team of the 20th Century in 2002, and in 2004 as one of the world's best living players in the FIFA 100.

Beckenbauer won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1967 and three European Cups in a row from 1974 to 1976 at club-level with

. He is the first footballer to lift three European Cups as the skipper.

The bulk of his achievements came with the Bayern Munich, who earned four championships of the Bundesliga, 4 DFB-Pokals, and three European Cups.

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