Lothar Matthaus (GER)

Lothar Matthaus is one of the most successful players ever in world football. In 1982, he made his World Cup debut against Chile. In 1984 he moved to Bayern Munich and helped them win the league twice and the cup once before participating in the 1986 WC in Mexico.

By the time the World Cup was held in Italy in 1990, Matthaus was established in Inter Milan. It was to be Matthaus’ best World Cup. He scored four goals from his midfield position. In the final, Argentina were once again the opponents, but this time neither Maradona or anyone else could stop Matthaus and Germany. In 1994 he was supposed to be playing in his last World Cup. Germany were knocked out by Bulgaria in the quarter-final and in the same game he joined Uwe Seeler, Wladislav Zmuda and Maradona as a recordholder of most World Cup matches with 21. Against all odds he turned up in France 98 and came in as a substitute against Yugoslavia setting a new record for appearances in the WC with 22. He played in all the rest of Germany’s matches, making his total to 25.