There was plenty for former Germany football legend Lothar Matthäus to celebrate yesterday.Alongside Germany’s impressive 4-0 win over Portugal in their opening World Cup match in Brazil, the midfield dynamo was also presented with an official Guinness World Records certificate, recognizing his achievement for most football FIFA World Cup matches played in by a player.
Matthäus represented his country at five World Cups (Spain 1982, Mexico 1986, Italy 1990, USA 1994, and France 1998), playing in a record-setting total of 25 matches, famously leading Germany to glory as Captain in 1990.
The 53-year-old spoke of his pride upon receiving his certificate from Guinness World Records adjudicator Eva Norroy during a presentation yesterday in Berlin.
“Receiving such an award takes me back to the feeling I had when I held the World Cup as the captain of the winning team in 1990. It’s a special tribute, and one that I am very proud of.”
“I feel very honored to be a part of this exclusive group of official record holders“, he added.
His glittering 21-year playing career saw him become Germany most capped player of all time, retiring with a total of 150 appearances (83 for West Germany) in 20 years, and 23 goals.
In 1991, he was named the first ever FIFA World Player of the Year, and remains the only German to have received the award.
A member of the FIFA 100 list of the greatest living football players chosen by Pelé, Diego Maradona once said of Matthäus, "he is the best rival I've ever had. I guess that's enough to define him”.
Stay tuned for a full interview with Lothar on GuinnessWorldRecords.com in our World Cup round-up later this week.
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