"Nearly 30 years have passed since a German footballer last won the Ballon d'Or, the sport's most prestigious individual prize. In 1996, Matthias Sammer was awarded the trophy on the heels of a European Championship victory for his country and just several months before he would go on to win the Champions League title with his club, Borussia Dortmund. Even before Sammer, German footballers had seen considerable Ballon d'Or success, particularly in the 1970s and early 80s."
"In the last few decades, German teams and their players have managed to stay front and center in world football Bayern Munich have won the Champions League three times, while Germany won the FIFA World Cup in 2014. Players like Manuel Neuer, Toni Kroos and Thomas Muller have all been integral to the success of their respective clubs. But the coveted Ballon d'Or has remained elusive for German footballers."
"A lack of elite attackers? For nearly 30 years, the Ballon d'Or has almost exclusively favored strikers and attacking players. All but three winners since Sammer have been forwards, with the most recent exception to the rule being Spanish defensive midfielder Rodri in 2024. The unfortunate reality for Germany is that they haven't managed to keep up with other nations or even their own history in producing world-class attackers."
German football has not produced a Ballon d'Or winner since Matthias Sammer in 1996 despite earlier eras of success. Legends Gerd Muller, Franz Beckenbauer and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge secured multiple Ballon d'Ors in the 1970s and early 1980s. Clubs and national teams have remained prominent, with Bayern Munich winning the Champions League multiple times and Germany winning the 2014 World Cup. Manuel Neuer, Toni Kroos and Thomas Muller have been key contributors at club and international level. The Ballon d'Or has predominantly favored attackers for nearly three decades, and Germany has struggled to supply world-class forwards. Exceptional goalkeepers Oliver Kahn and Manuel Neuer finished no higher than third.
Read at www.dw.com
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