# Who is the best player in Germany national team history?

> Four World Cup titles and countless legends — who is the greatest player in German football history?

*By YPB Team · Published May 19, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/who-is-the-best-player-in-germany-national-team-history*

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## Current results (0 votes)

1. **Franz Beckenbauer**
   Won the 1974 World Cup as captain and 1990 as coach; invented the attacking sweeper role.
2. **Gerd Müller**
   All-time World Cup top scorer at the time of retirement, won 1974 World Cup and 1972 Euros.
3. **Lothar Matthäus**
   Germany's most-capped player and captain of the 1990 World Cup-winning side.
4. **Sepp Maier**
   Iconic goalkeeper and cornerstone of Germany's dominant 70s international side.
5. **Karl-Heinz Rummenigge**
   Twice European Footballer of the Year and a prolific striker in the 80s.
6. **Oliver Kahn**
   Two-time World Goalkeeper of the Year and the most dominant keeper of his generation.
7. **Philipp Lahm**
   Captain of Germany's 2014 World Cup-winning side, widely considered the perfect full-back.
8. **Michael Ballack**
   Germany's midfield general and captain through the 2002 and 2006 World Cups.
9. **Uwe Seeler**
   Loyal Hamburg striker who played in four World Cups and scored 43 goals for West Germany.
10. **Bastian Schweinsteiger**
   Midfield workhorse and key architect of Germany's 2014 World Cup triumph.
11. **Thomas Müller**
   All-time top scorer at World Cup tournaments among Germans, a space interpreter of unique genius.
12. **Berti Vogts**
   World Cup winner in 1974 and one of the great man-markers, later a successful manager.
13. **Andreas Brehme**
   Scored the winning penalty in the 1990 World Cup final against Argentina.
14. **Fritz Walter**
   Captain of West Germany's 1954 'Miracle of Bern' World Cup-winning side.

Tags: germany, football, players, world cup, legends, all-time, national teams