Germany is known for its incredible football talent, and its midfielders are no exception. Throughout the years, there have been a number of German midfielders who have made an impact on the game, both domestically and internationally.
In this list, we will explore the careers of some of the most iconic German midfielders and discover why they are considered to be the best of all time.
From the legendary Bastian Schweinsteiger to the likes of Michael Ballack and Mesut Ozil, we’ll be taking a look at the best German midfielders of all time and why they deserve their place amongst the greats. So, without further ado, let’s get started!
10 Best German Midfielders of all Time
| Player Name | Position |
| Bastian Schweinsteiger | Midfielder |
| Lothar Matthäus | Midfielder, Sweeper |
| Michael Ballack | Midfielder |
| Nadiem Amiri | Attacking Midfielder |
| Toni Kroos | Midfielder |
| Mesut Özil | Attacking Midfielder |
| Joshua Kimmich | Defensive Midfielder |
| Thomas Müller | Attacking Midfielder, Forward |
| Leon Goretzka | Midfielder |
| Julian Brandt | Attacking Midfielder |
Germany is home to some of the best midfielders in the world, and the national team has been blessed with some of the most talented and creative players in the history of the game. Here’s a look at the 10 best German midfielders of all time:
1. Bastian Schweinsteiger
| Full Name | Bastian Schweinsteiger |
| Date of Birth | 1 August 1984 |
| Place of Birth | Kolbermoor, West Germany |
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| Position(s) | Midfielder |
| Country | German |
| Football Clubs | Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Chicago Fire |
| Goals | 80 |
| Achievement | FIFA World Cup: 2014; Third Place: 2006, 2010 UEFA European Football Championship Runner-Up: 2008 FIFA Confederations Cup Third Place: 2005 |
Bastian Schweinsteiger is one of the best German midfielders of all time. He has played for top clubs like Manchester United and Bayern Munich. He is known for his amazing work ethic and his never-say-die attitude on the field.
What makes Schweinsteiger special is his ability to play anywhere in midfield and his unparalleled commitment to the team. He has a great sense of placement and timing, which allows him to win the ball back and initiate attacks for his team. He is a great passer and has an eye for goal.
He spent 17 seasons at Bayern Munich, playing exactly 500 matches in all competitions and scoring 68 goals. His honors at the club include eight Bundesliga titles, seven DFB-Pokal titles, one UEFA Champions League title, one FIFA Club World Cup title and one UEFA Super Cup title. Also, He is Germany’s fourth-most capped player of all time, earning 121 caps and scoring 24 goals. He was selected in their squads for four European Championships and three World Cups, including their victory at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Schweinsteiger played his last match for Germany against Finland on 31 August 2016, after which he retired from international football. Schweinsteiger’s career has been marked by trophies and achievements. He has won every major honor there, including the World Cup, Champions League and Bundesliga. He is a true servant of the game and a role model for aspiring midfielders everywhere.
2. Lothar Matthäus
| Full Name | Lothar Herbert Matthäus |
| Date of Birth | 21 March 1961 |
| Place of Birth | Erlangen, West Germany |
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) |
| Position(s) | Midfielder, Sweeper |
| Country | German |
| Football Clubs | FC Herzogenaurach, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich |
| Goals | 204 |
| Achievement | FIFA World Cup: 1990 UEFA European Championship: 1980 U.S. Cup: 1993 |
You can say that German midfielders are so respected around the world because of Lothar Mathaus. He was one of the main great, and his skills and techniques paved the way for everything that came after him. He was a full midfielder- a player who could do everything.
He started his career in Borussia Mönchengladbach and did not take long for him to be called to the national team. He quickly became the basis of the lineup, and after the captaincy of West Germany in the 1990 FIFA World Cup, he was given the Ballon d’Or where he picked up the World Cup trophy. In 1991, he was first nominated FIFA World Player of the Year, and received the award as the only German. The record of the five FIFA World Cup (1982, 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1998) was occupied by Mathaus, which is more than any other outfield player in male football until the 2018 World Cup. He retired in 2000, but his legacy survived.
To today, Mathaus is still considered one of Germany’s best midfielders.
3. Michael Ballack
| Full Name | Michael Ballack |
| Date of Birth | 26 September 1976 |
| Place of Birth | Görlitz, East Germany |
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) |
| Position(s) | Midfielder |
| Country | German |
| Football Clubs | Chemnitzer FC, FC Kaiserslautern, Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Bayer Leverkusen |
| Goals | 159 |
| Achievement | FIFA World Cup Runner-Up: 2002; Third Place: 2006 UEFA European Championship Runner-Up: 2008 FIFA Confederations Cup Third Place: 2005 |
You might not have heard of Michael Ballack before, but he was one of the best German midfielders of all time. He was known for his powerful shots and his leadership skills. He was a respected member of the team, and he always pushed his teammates to do better.
Ballack started his career at Chemnitzer FC, and he quickly rose through the ranks. He made his debut for the national team in 1999, and he quickly became a fixture in the starting lineup. He led Germany to victory at the World Cup in 2002, and he was named captain of the team in 2006.
He continued to play for Germany until 2010, when an injury forced him to retire from international football. He went on to play for Chelsea, Bayer Leverkusen and FC Bayern München before retiring in 2012.
4. Nadiem Amiri
| Full Name | Nadiem Amir |
| Date of Birth | 27 October 1996 |
| Place of Birth | Ludwigshafen, Germany |
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) |
| Position(s) | Attacking Midfielder |
| Country | German |
| Football Clubs | 1899 Hoffenheim, Bayer Leverkusen, Genoa |
| Goals | 22 |
| Achievement | UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 2017 |
Amiri was selected as one of three young players for the Tokyo Olympics, where he scored in each of Germany’s first two games, a loss to Brazil and a win against Saudi Arabia.
He was part of the Germany U-21 team that won the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, defeating Spain U-21 in the final. Nadeem Amiri is one of the young talents of the German midfield. At just 22, he has already made a name for himself with his outstanding performances for Hoffenheim.
A product of the Hoffenheim academy, Amiri debuted for the senior team in 2016 and has since established himself as a regular starter. He is a versatile midfielder who can play both centrally and out wide. Amiri is known for his technical skills, vision and passing. He is very hard working and always tries to create chances for his teammates.
With his talent, Amiri has already attracted interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs. It will be interesting to see where his career takes him in the future.
5. Toni Kroos
| Full Name | Toni Kroos |
| Date of Birth | 4 January 1990 |
| Place of Birth | Greifswald, East Germany |
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| Position(s) | Midfielder |
| Country | German |
| Football Clubs | Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Real Madrid |
| Goals | 86 |
| Achievement | FIFA World Cup: 2014 FIFA World Cup Third Place: 2010 UEFA European Championship |
Toni Kroos is a German professional footballer who plays for Spanish club Real Madrid and the German national team. He has been described as one of the best midfielders of his generation and is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time.
His career at Bayern Munich, making his professional debut in 2007. He won three Bundesliga titles, two DFB-Pokals and a UEFA Champions League before moving to Real Madrid in 2014. At Real Madrid he won four Champions Leagues, three Club World Cups, and two La Liga titles.
Kroos is known for his passing accuracy and technique as well as his ability to create opportunities for other players. He is also admired for his vision, awareness and strategic acumen.
Kroos has also been successful on the international stage, winning the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 UEFA European Championship with Germany. He has also been named in the UEFA Team of the Year four times and has been included in the FIFA FIFPro World. Five times in the eleventh.
He is currently the captain of the German national team, and is the most capped German player in history. He has also won numerous individual awards, including the UEFA Midfielder of the Year in 2013 and 2019 and the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award in 2014.
Kroos is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time and many consider him the best midfielder of his generation. He is known for his exceptional vision and technique as well as his ability to control the game from midfield.
6. Mesut Özil
| Full Name | Mesut Özil |
| Date of Birth | 15 October 1988 |
| Place of Birth | Gelsenkirchen, West Germany |
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) |
| Position(s) | Attacking Midfielder |
| Country | German |
| Football Clubs | Werder Bremen |
| Goals | 105 |
| Achievement | FIFA World Cup: 2014 FIFA World Cup third place: 2010 UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 2009 |
When it comes to German midfielders, Mesut Ozil undoubtedly tops the list. He’s been one of the best in the world for years now, and shows no signs of slowing down.
Özil is known for his incredible vision and passing ability. He can see a play developing before it happens and sets up teammates with pinpoint passes that lead to scoring opportunities. He is also an expert at taking on defenders one-on-one and creating space for himself.
Eligible to play for either Germany or Turkey, Ozil chose to play for the country of his birth, Germany, after much consideration. In September 2006, he was called up to the Germany under-17 squad. He has been a member of the German under-21 team since 2007. On 29 June 2009, Özil was named man of the match in a 4–0 win over England in the final of the European Under-21 Championship.
Özil made his debut for the senior team on 11 February 2009 in a friendly against Norway. He scored his first goal for the senior team on his third appearance, in another friendly, against South Africa at Bayer Arena Leverkusen on 5 September.
What makes it really special is his ability to control the game from midfield. He is a player who can dictate the pace of a match and often pulls the strings for his team. When Ozil is on form, opposition teams cannot stop him.
7. Joshua Kimmich
| Full Name | Joshua Walter Kimmich |
| Date of Birth | 8 February 1995 |
| Place of Birth | Rottweil, Germany |
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) |
| Position(s) | Defensive Midfielder, Right-Back |
| Country | German |
| Football Clubs | RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich |
| Goals | 33 |
| Achievement | FIFA Confederations Cup: 2017 UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2014 |
The young German midfielder is already making a name for himself at Bayern Munich and at just 22, he is one of the best midfielders in the world.
Kimmich was named in Germany’s initial 27-man squad for UEFA Euro 2016. On 31 May 2016, he was named in the final 23-man squad and was given the number 21 shirt. Kimmich was selected to start for Germany in their final Group C match against Northern Ireland, replacing Benedikt Howedis at right-back. Kimmich remained Germany’s first-choice right-back as they reached the semi-finals and were named in UEFA’s team of the tournament. Kimmich scored his first goal for the German national team in a 3–0 win over Norway during the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Kimmich was included in Joachim Low’s Germany squad for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. He started all five of the team’s matches at the tournament, registering two assists, as Germany won its first Confederations Cup title. Kimmich was selected by Joachim Löw in Germany’s final 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Kimmich made his World Cup debut in their first match against Mexico, but the game ended in a 1–0 loss for Germany.
He is a box-to-box midfielder who can do it all. He’s got an incredible engine and is always stepping up to create chances for his team. He is also a solid defender, with a killer tackle. Kimmich is the future of German football and he is going to be one to watch for years to come.
8. Thomas Müller
| Full Name | Thomas Müller |
| Date of Birth | 13 September 1989 |
| Place of Birth | Weilheim in Oberbayern, West Germany |
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) |
| Position(s) | Attacking Midfielder, Forward |
| Country | German |
| Football Clubs | Bayern Munich II, Bayern Munich |
| Goals | 201 |
| Achievement | FIFA World Cup: 2014 FIFA World Cup Third Place: 2010 |
Thomas Müller’s name comes to mind when one thinks of German midfielders. He has been part of the national team for years and has been one of their most consistent players.
What makes Müller stand out is his unique style of play. He is not your conventional midfielder; In fact, he doesn’t really fit into any particular position. He is a free spirit who roams around the pitch and makes things happen.
Müller was called up to the German national team in 2010. At the 2010 World Cup, he scored five goals in six games as Germany finished third. He was named the best young player of the tournament and won the Golden Boot as the tournament’s top scorer with five goals and three assists. At the 2014 World Cup he played a key role in helping the team win the trophy, scoring five goals and winning the Silver Ball as the second-top player of the tournament and the Silver Boot as the second-top goalscorer, and was also named. World Cup All Star XI and Dream Team. In 2014, Müller was ranked as the fifth-best footballer in the world by The Guardian. Müller is the most decorated German footballer in history with 32 trophies.
He is also a master of improvisation, which is why he is so difficult to defend against. His opponents never know what he’s going to do next, and he’s able to create chances out of nothing. Müller has been one of the biggest reasons for Germany’s success in recent years.
9. Leon Goretzka
| Full Name | Leon Christoph Goretzka |
| Date of Birth | 6 February 1995 |
| Place of Birth | Bochum, Germany |
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) |
| Position(s) | Midfielder |
| Country | German |
| Football Clubs | VfL Bochum, Schalke 04, Bayern Munich |
| Goals | 65 |
| Achievement | FIFA Confederations Cup: 2017 Summer Olympic Games Silver Medal: 2016 |
If you’re looking for a player who can do it all, look no further than Leon Goretzka. The 25-year-old is a versatile midfielder who can play in any position in the center of the park. He’s an excellent passer of the ball and has an incredible work ethic.
Goretzka made his debut for the German national team in 2016 and has since gone on to make over 30 appearances for Die Mannschaft. He was a key member of the squad that won the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup and was also part of the team that reached the 2018 FIFA World Cup final.
At club level, Goretzka started his career with VfL Bochum before joining Schalke 04 in 2013. He’s been a regular starter for Die Knappen over the past few years and has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the Bundesliga.
10. Julian Brandt
| Full Name | Julian Brandt |
| Date of Birth | 2 May 1996 |
| Place of Birth | Bremen, Germany |
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) |
| Position(s) | Left Winger, Attacking Midfielder |
| Country | German |
| Football Clubs | Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund |
| Goals | 60 |
| Achievement | FIFA Confederations Cup: 2017 Summer Olympic Games Silver Medal: 2016 UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2014 |
Julian Brandt is one of the most exciting German midfielders in recent years. He’s versatile, he’s creative, and he has an incredible work ethic.
Brandt came up through the youth ranks at Bayer Leverkusen, and made his first-team debut in 2013. Since then, he’s gone on to make over 200 appearances for the club, scoring 43 goals and providing 54 assists.
He’s also been a regular for the German national team, earning over 30 caps since his debut in 2016.
At just 25 years old, Brandt still has his best years ahead of him. And with his versatility, work ethic, and natural talent, there’s no doubt that he has the potential to become one of the best German midfielders of all time.
Conclusion
German midfielders have been some of the most influential players in the football world for many years. From Bastian Schweinsteiger to Mesut Özil, German midfielders have consistently demonstrated their unrivaled technical ability, tactical intelligence, and winning mentality. The best German midfielders of all time have played an important role in the rise of German football and have earned their place in the history books.
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