Lothar Matthäus

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Matthäus was first called up in 1980 to the West German squad that won UEFA Euro 1980 in Italy, making his international debut during the tournament in a 3–2 first round win against the Netherlands on 14 June. He also played two games at the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain, coming on as a substitute in group stage games against Chile and the infamous Disgrace of Gijón game versus Austria. West Germany reached the final, losing to Italy 3–1. At the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, Matthäus scored the winner in the round of 16 against Morocco. In the final, he was assigned by coach Franz Beckenbauer 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 UEFA Euro 1988 on home soil, Matthäus captained the team, but it was Klaus Allofs who scored a penalty to give West Germany a 1–0 lead in the semi-final against the eventual champions Netherlands; Matthäus did not score in that match, and the Netherlands won 2–1.

In Their Own Story

His immediate success in Italy's Serie A was a precursor to the national team which finally managed to triumph at the 1990 FIFA World Cup held in Italy. Six of West Germany's squad played professionally there; Matthäus and the West German squad played most of the World Cup games at Inter's home stadium the San Siro. West Germany was the best team of the tournament and one of the few to choose an attacking style of play. Matthäus led his squad from midfield and scored four goals, including two in the team's opening group match, a 4–1 win against Yugoslavia. He scored the only goal of the quarter-final against Czechoslovakia from a penalty awarded in the 25th minute. West Germany reached its third consecutive final, a rematch against Maradona-led Argentina, and this time Matthäus and his team emerged victorious 1–0 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome thanks to Andreas Brehme converting an 85th minute penalty. Matthäus later said that playing the World Cup in Italy was 'like playing a World Cup at home'. As team captain, Matthäus hoisted the last World Cup trophy before German reunification in 1990.

Reader's Guide

Matthäus did not participate in UEFA Euro 1992 in Sweden due to an injury, where a reunified Germany made the final but lost 2–0 to Denmark. At the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States, he captained the team but now operated as sweeper. He scored a penalty in Germany's quarter-final match against Bulgaria at Giants Stadium in New York City, which was also his record-tying 21st World Cup match, but the Bulgarians scored twice in three minutes to upset the defending champions. USA '94 was expected to be his last tournament, though he did not officially retire from international play. Matthäus was afterwards not called up for the national team, due to feuding with succeeding captain Jürgen Klinsmann and coach Berti Vogts. In his absence Germany won UEFA Euro 1996 in England. Surprisingly, he was called up for the 1998 World Cup in France as a replacement for the injured Matthias Sammer. He became the second player to appear in five different World Cup tournaments, tying the record of Mexican goalkeeper Antonio Carbajal. Matthäus played in all the rest of Germany's matches until Croatia knocked them out 3–0 in the quarterfinals, taking his total to a then-record 25. Matthäus earned his last three caps at UEFA Euro 2000 in Belgium and the Netherlands, with his 150th cap being against Portugal, where Germany had a disastrous first-round exit.

Did You Know?

• 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 is the most capped German player of all time, with 150 appearances (83 for West Germany) in 20 years.
• Diego Maradona said of Matthäus, 'He is the best rival I've ever had. I guess that's enough to define him.'
• In 1999, aged 38, Matthäus was again voted German Footballer of the Year, having previously won the award in 1990.
• Matthäus was included in the Ballon d'Or Dream Team in 2020.