10 Greatest German Footballers Of All Time

Like their status as a global superpower in world economics, Germany have remained one of the giants of football throughout their storied history. With four World Cups and three European Champions to boast, Germany have dominated the game like few others. From being home to some of the best clubs and fanbases in the world to churning out some of the most iconic names the game has ever seen, Germany’s contribution towards football is immeasurable. With football deeply embedded in their culture – another reason for their passion towards the game, Germany’s conveyor belt of talent doesn’t cease to exist. Though it is always tough to narrow down the best ones amid a legion of legends, We have drawn up a list of the ten greatest German players in footballer history.

List of 10 best German footballers of all time

Oliver Kahn

The world might have witnessed an array of great goalkeepers but only a few had revolutionised the position like Kahn did. Nicknamed The Titan, Khan was the embodiment of a perfect shot-stopper; In addition to his complete skillset, his imposing figure, mental strength and leadership qualities made him a standout. Starting at Karlsruher FC, Khan joined Bayern Munich in 1994, where he would ingrain his status as one of the best keepers for more than a decade, contributing to the club’s continued success in the domestic competitions as well as the Champions League title in 2001.

Internationally, Khan was a great success too, serving as Germany’s captain for several years and enjoying a spectacular 2002 World Cup campaign – where Die Mannschaft lost to Brazil in the finals, for which he was bestowed with the Golden Ball award – he remains the only keeper to lift the Golden Ball in the World Cup history.

Miroslav Klose

Miroslav Klose may not belong to the elite player list, but his prolific record at the international level sees him make the cut in this list above many others. Netting 71 goals in 137 appearances, Klose remains the all-time top-scorer of the German national team. Besides, he also holds the prestigious record for the most goals scored in the World Cup (16) whilst being an integral part of the squad that won the 2014 edition. Klose had spells at Bayern Munich, with whom he won two Bundesliga titles, and Lazio, with whom he won the Coppa Italia in 2012-13. Retiring in 2016, Klose currently serves as Nurnberg’s head coach.

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Karl-Heinz Rummenigge

The sixth joint all-time top scorer of the German national team with 45 goals, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was one of the best players of his time. He was part of the West Germany side that won the Euro 1980 and captained the team that ended as the runners-up in the 1982 and 1986 World Cups. Rummenigge is also considered one of the legends of Bayern Munich, with whom he netted 217 goals, making him the club’s fourth-highest scorer of all time. His Ballon d’Or triumphs in 1980 and 1981 – the joint-most by a German player – was another testament to his greatness.

Thomas Muller

It wouldn’t be a stretch to call Thomas Muller one of the underrated footballers in the last decade. Whilst many of his peers have hogged the limelight, Muller’s incredible records for Bayern Munich and Germany prompt that he should be celebrated in the same bracket as the greats of the game. The Ramdeuter, a nickname he earned for his playing position, has played a key role in Bayern’s hegemony in the Bundesliga since the last decade, winning 12 titles in addition to a heap of other domestic honours.

He also has three Champions League titles, one FIFA World Cup (2014), and a plethora of individual titles in a stacked trophy cabinet. Muller is also the most-capped Bayern player in their history (715 appearances) and their third-highest all-time top scorer (245) goals. The 35-year-old, who recently retired from international football, is Germany’s joint-fourth top scorer (45 goals), winning the Golden Boot award in FIFA World Cup 2010.

Manuel Neuer

Manuel Neuer followed in the footsteps of his compatriot Oliver Kahn to carve out an astonishing career at both Bayern and Germany, even transcending the former’s legacy. Neuer has set the benchmark for modern-day goalkeeping over the last decade with his incredible reflex techniques and audacious sweeping abilities. Considered the best sweeper-keeper of all time, Neuer, by far, has been really at the top of the keeper’s pyramid for a long time.

In addition to the raft of trophies with Bayern, he won the Golden Glove award with Germany at the 2014 World Cup. Neuer won the IFFHS Best Goalkeeper award for the last decade (2011-20) and was named the UEFA Champions League Goalkeeper of the season in 2019-20, during which the Bavarians achieved the sextuple. Aged 38, Neuer also recently bowed out from his international career but still remains a key player for Bayern, showing no signs of slowing down.

Toni Kroos

Of all the best players Germany has ever seen, nobody was as successful as Toni Kroos outside the country. After spells at Bayern and Bayer Leverkusen, Kroos moved to Real Madrid in 2014 and the rest is history. The German midfield maestro has been at the heart of Los Blancos’ five Champions League and four La Liga titles while establishing himself as one of the best midfielders of all time. He was also a key member of Germany’s 2014 World Cup-winning squad. However, Kroos has retired from international football for the second time following unsuccessful Euro 2024. The 34-year-old played a pivotal role in Madrid’s UCL and La Liga success last season, showing he is still in his prime.

Philipp Lahm

Considered one of the greatest full-backs in history, Philipp Lahm was also the best utility player the game has ever seen. The diminutive player spent more than two decades at Bayern Munich and became part of the furniture, winning 8 Bundesliga titles, 1 Champions League and 1 FIFA Club World Cup. During Pep Guardiola’s stint at Bayern, Lahm was converted into one of the best deep-lying playmakers. A diminutive player, Lahm made up for the lack of physicality with his game awareness and footballing intelligence. With 113 caps to his name, Lahm captained the German national team to World Cup glory in 2014.

Gerd Muller

Speaking about the best strikers of all time, Gerd Muller’s name will always pop up first. While the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Erling Haaland are the best penalty box predators of the current era, Muller was the pioneer of the term poachers back in his time. His prolific scoring saw him dominate the German top flight for many years, almost being peerless.

Perhaps, Muller is still untouchable as he is still the all-time top scorer of Bayern and the Bundesliga. He was the centre-piece of the Bavarian side that dominated Germany and Europe in the 70s. Nicknamed El Bomber, Muller won the European Championship in 1972 and the 1974 World Cup with West Germany. He was also the recipient of the Ballon d’Or in 1970.

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Lothar Matthaus

A pivotal figure of the all-conquering Bayern side in the 80s, Lothar Matthaus’ success also stretched boundaries as he made an indelible mark at Inter Milan as well, winning the Serie A in 1988-89 and the UEFA Cup in 1990-91. Matthaus reached the high point of his career during that time as he led West Germany to World Cup glory in 1990, which further drove him to the Ballon d’Or success the same year – thus joining the select few German players to lift that prestigious award.

Franz Beckenbauer

The late Franz Beckenbauer, who passed away in January 2024, will be the first pick if there is a Mount Rushmore for Germany and Bayern Munich. A trailblazer of the modern libero, Beckenbauer’s unparalleled success echoes throughout Germany and Bayern’s history. He was responsible for putting West Germany on the footballing map after leading them to 1974 World Cup glory.

The final was of historical significance as the West Germans beat an unstoppable Johan Cruyff’s Netherlands team 2-1, as their well-rounded defensive tactics nullified the Dutch team’s Total Football. He won four Bundesliga titles and three European Cups as a player with Bayern Munich and tasted yet another World Cup glory in 1990 but this time as West Germany’s manager.

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