Beckenbauer, Neuer, Lahm, Muller: Who is the greatest German player ever? | OneFootball

Germany are one of the most successful nations in football history.

Die Mannschaft have been crowned World Cup champions on four occasions.

They won their first world title in 1954 and have followed that success up with triumphs in 1974, 1990 and 2014.

While they aren’t the favourites to emerge victorious when the competition 2022 competition kicks off in Qatar later this year, you can never write them off completely.

Germany have also won the European Championship three times, triumphing in 1972, 1980 and 1996.

But who are the greatest players in Germany history? FourFourTwo have answered that very question and ranked the 10 best German players ever. View their list below…

10. Oliver Khan

One of the greatest goalkeepers ever. Khan spent 14 successful years at Bayern Munich and played 86 times for his country.

9. Fritz Walter

Walter captained Germany to their first World Cup title in 1954. He scored 33 times in 61 games for his country.

8. Miroslav Klose

A goal machine. Klose is the top goalscorer in World Cup finals history, having hit the back of the net 16 times in 24 games.

7. Manuel Neuer

An incredible shot-stopper, but also highly competent with the ball at his feet. Neuer is still going strong at the age of 36.

6. Gunther Netzer

Netzer was a key part of the German sides that won the European Championship in 1972 and the World Cup two years later.

5. Uwe Seeler

Seeler scored 490 times in 580 games for Hamburger SV. He was named German Footballer of the Year three times (1960, 1964, 1970).

4. Philipp Lahm

Lahm was small in stature but had the heart of a lion. He was a dependable full-back who made the successful transition to midfield at Bayern Munich under Pep Guardiola.

3. Lothar Matthaus

Matthaus is Germany’s most capped player ever with 150 appearances. The box-to-box midfielder scored over 200 goals in his career. He won the Ballon d’Or in 1990.

2. Gerd Muller

Muller was lethal in front of goal. He scored an incredible 68 goals in 62 games for his country. He also hit the back of the net 563 times for Bayern Munich from 1964-1979.

1. Franz Beckenbauer

Nicknamed ‘Der Kaiser’, Beckenbauer is considered one of the greatest footballers ever. He was named in the World Team of the 21st Century and won the Ballon d’Or twice (1972 and 1976).

Among the players that miss out on the top 10 include Jurgen Klinsmann, Rudi Voller, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Michael Ballack, Thomas Muller and Toni Kroos.

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