5 greatest German footballers of all time

Modified Jun 19, 2018 10:07 GMT

Goalie Diving for Soccer Ball — Sepp Maier

#2 Gerd Muller

Gerd Muller is the greatest goal-scorer in the history of football. Muller’s incredible tally of 68 goals in only 62 matches for West Germany is a testimony to his outstanding ability as a striker. He was also a very prolific scorer for his club Bayern Munich and remains the highest scorer in the history of Bundesliga with 615 goals in 636 matches.

Gerd Muller played in only 2 World Cups but scored an incredible 14 goals which make him the 3rd highest goal scorer in the history of the tournament. Quite possibly the greatest goal-scorer the world has seen, Muller was clinical inside the opposition penalty box. He scored 10 goals in the 1970 World Cup including 2 hat-tricks and won the prestigious Golden Boot, but West Germany lost to Italy in that unforgettable semi-final to bow out of the tournament.

However, Muller made up for that reversal in 1974 by helping his country win the World Cup as hosts. He scored 4 goals in the tournament including the vital equaliser against Holland in the final. Franz Beckenbauer, the German captain, hailed Muller as the most important member of the side. Muller also won 4 Bundesliga titles, 3 European Cups and 1 European Cup Winners' Cup for Bayern in the 13 seasons he spent with the club. Muller was rightly called " Der Bomber" or " The Bomber" because of his clinical approach as a striker.

About the author

Subhadeep, an adept tennis journalist at Sportskeeda, has been writing about the sport for seven years. He is known for his exclusive match reviews and opinion pieces, utilizing his MBA degree to tackle them effectively with his problem-solving abilities.

Subhadeep lives and breathes tennis. He watches matches regularly and engages in social media platforms to stay on top of the latest happenings. As a writer, he brings the fan's perspective to his pieces, ensuring his readers enjoy an exceptional experience every time.

Growing up, he idolized Boris Becker, but he now firmly believes Novak Djokovic stands alone as the 'Greatest of all Time', especially considering the 24-time Grand Slam champion's incredible stats. One thing that still puzzles Subhadeep, however, is how Becker's Wimbledon tally might have reached five if not for Pete Sampras.

Speaking of the All England Club, the British Major holds a special place in his heart as he admires its blend of tradition and grass-court excellence. When not working for Sportskeeda, Subhadeep delves into the other "love of his life": football, and enjoys contributing his insights to different websites dedicated to the sport.

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Edited by Amit Mishra