Lothar Matthäus

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Matthäus made his World Cup debut in 1982 in Spain, coming on as a substitute in group stage games against Chile and the infamous Disgrace of Gijón match versus Austria, which West Germany won 1–0. West Germany reached the final, losing to Italy 3–1. In 1986 in Mexico, he scored the winner in the round of 16 against Morocco. In the final, coach Franz Beckenbauer assigned Matthäus to mark Argentina's Diego Maradona; Maradona did not score, but his pass set up the winning goal, and West Germany lost 3–2. At the 1990 World Cup in Italy, Matthäus captained the team and scored four goals, including two in a 4–1 win against Yugoslavia and the only goal of the quarter-final against Czechoslovakia from a penalty. West Germany reached the final against Argentina and won 1–0 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome thanks to an 85th-minute penalty by Andreas Brehme. Matthäus later said playing the World Cup in Italy was 'like playing a World Cup at home'. As team captain, he hoisted the last World Cup trophy before German reunification. At the 1994 World Cup in the United States, he captained the team as a sweeper and scored a penalty in the quarter-final against Bulgaria, but Bulgaria scored twice in three minutes to upset the defending champions. At the 1998 World Cup in France, he was called up as a replacement for the injured Matthias Sammer. He came on as a substitute against FR Yugoslavia and helped the team to a 2–2 draw. He became the second player to appear in five different World Cup tournaments, tying the record of Mexican goalkeeper Antonio Carbajal. He played in all of Germany's matches until Croatia knocked them out 3–0 in the quarterfinals, taking his total to a then-record 25 World Cup matches.

In Their Own Story

The air inside the Stadio Olimpico in Rome hummed with tension on a July evening in 1990. Lothar Matthäus, captain of West Germany, led his team onto the pitch for the World Cup final against Argentina. It was a rematch of the 1986 final, where Matthäus had been assigned to mark Diego Maradona. This time, Matthäus and his team emerged victorious 1–0, thanks to Andreas Brehme converting an 85th-minute penalty. As captain, Matthäus hoisted the last World Cup trophy before German reunification. He later said that playing the World Cup in Italy was 'like playing a World Cup at home'.

Reader's Guide

Lothar Matthäus appeared at five FIFA World Cups: 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, and 1998. He was the first outfield player to do so, and second overall after Antonio Carbajal. He remains one of only seven male players to have achieved this. In 1990, he captained West Germany to victory, scoring four goals in the tournament, including two against Yugoslavia and a penalty in the quarter-final against Czechoslovakia. He was awarded the Ballon d'Or in 1990 and named the first FIFA World Player of the Year in 1991. Matthäus also played in UEFA Euro 1980, 1984, 1988, and 2000, winning Euro 1980. He is the most capped German player of all time, with 150 appearances (83 for West Germany) and 23 goals. Diego Maradona said of Matthäus, 'He is the best rival I've ever had. I guess that's enough to define him.'

Did You Know?

• Matthäus was the first outfield player, and second overall after Antonio Carbajal, to appear at five FIFA World Cups.
• He remains the only German to have received the FIFA World Player of the Year award, which he won in 1991.
• Diego Maradona called Matthäus 'the best rival I've ever had.'
• Matthäus captained West Germany to victory in the 1990 World Cup, the last World Cup trophy before German reunification.
• He came out of retirement in 2018 at age 57 to play 50 minutes for 1. FC Herzogenaurach, the club where his career started.