Why did the Talent of the Century not reach his potential: Who is Mario Götze?

He joined the Borussia Dortmund youth academy when he was only 8 years old. Götze, who played for the A team during the 2010-11 season, was transferred to Bayern Munich on April 23, 2013. Mario Götze signed a 4-year contract with Borussia Dortmund for 22 million euros in the 2016/17 season.

The 32-year-old German should be at his peak these days. However, his career, which once promised great potential, did not continue as expected.

It is quite difficult to call the career of a football player who scored the goal that won the World Cup an unsuccessful one.

Why did the “Talent of the Century” not reach his potential?

Mario Götze (born 3 June 1992) is a German professional footballer who plays for Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt and the Germany national team. Although his favoured position is that of a playmaker, Götze has also played as a left winger or false nine.

It was Matthias Sammer who gave him this nickname. The praise did not end there. According to Lewandowski, he was an ‘extraordinary player’, according to Klopp, he was ‘the best young player he had ever worked with’, according to Löw, he was a ‘wunderkind’ and according to Beckenbauer, he was ‘Germany’s best striker’.

Just as much praise from the big names as his names.

Of course, young Götze was a special player. He was mobile, intelligent, quick, creative, and technically incredibly strong. He was the ideal footballer of the 21st century; versatile, extraordinary in transition, and tactically cunning. Bild called him ‘Super Mario’.

At only 20 years old, he not only won two Bundesliga titles for Dortmund and a DFB-Pokal but also became the youngest player to play for the national team since 1954 in a friendly against Sweden in 2010. Sammer, one of the directors of the German Football Association at the time, said of his young compatriot, ‘One of the greatest talents we have ever had’.

The problem is that young Götze is now the old Götze. Football moves very fast and, in one way or another, the kid from Memmingen, Bavaria, missed the train.

When Klopp invited his former pupil to Liverpool in 2016, Götze surprisingly declined. Although his performances at Bayern started well, they gradually declined as Klopp had predicted. Liverpool was ready to offer a large sum of money to the German, who was starting to lose ground in Pep Guardiola’s team.

Götze returned to Dortmund that summer, while Liverpool had already set their sights on other players. Four years have passed and it is safe to say that Sadio Mane, whom they signed that summer, is now one of their biggest success stories. The ‘Red Train’ is now moving at full speed.

In the meantime, Götze must also weigh up his next move. His name has been linked with Italian clubs, especially Lazio and Milan. But despite all this, there are rumors that his best days may be behind him.

“He has to find his true self again,” German legend Lothar Matheus recently told Sky. “It’s not physical, it’s mental. Football is not the same anymore and his style of play is no longer desired. He doesn’t have the speed that Dortmund and other top clubs require.”

That’s the problem, really. Otherwise, Götze’s talent is still there. “It’s like riding a bike,” says Sammer, “talent is something you can’t forget.” But injuries and illnesses have damaged him. The groin inflammation he suffered in his youth, the ankle problem he suffered after being tripped by Chelsea’s Ramires in the 2013 UEFA Super Cup match, and especially the metabolic disorder that cost him six months in 2017 – myopathy, according to the German press – took all his speed and punch.

There was other criticism. Bild reported in a not-so-kind way, saying “Götze could make millions on social media without sweating every day in training,” while Die Zeit called him the “Walking Selfie” for his love of Instagram and TikTok. Meanwhile, Dortmund manager Lucien Favre has openly stated that it is almost impossible to find room for Mario in his 3-4-3.

“Show the world that you are better than Messi,” Löw said when he brought him in from the bench in the 2014 World Cup Final.

Once upon a time, this didn’t sound so strange.

Who is he?

Mario Götze was born in Memmingen on June 3, 1992. He is a German national footballer. Matthias Sammer of the German Football Association called him “one of the most talented players who ever lived.” Götze joined the Borussia Dortmund youth academy when he was only 8 years old. He made his Bundesliga debut on November 21, 2009, against Mainz 05. He came on as a substitute for Jakub Błaszczykowski in the 88th minute of the match that ended in a 0-0 draw. After Shinji Kagawa was injured and the season ended, he played for the A team throughout the 2010-11 season. He contributed to Dortmund becoming champions with 15 assists and 6 goals.

On April 23, 2013, Götze was transferred to Bayern Munich. Borussia Dortmund announced on their official Facebook account that Götze had informed the club that he wanted to transfer to Bayern Munich as of July 1, 2013. Bayern Munich used the clause in Mario Götze's contract that "he will be released for 38 million euros" and added the star player to their squad.

Borussia Dortmund (2nd term)

Mario Götze signed a 4-year contract with Borussia Dortmund for 22 million euros in the 2016/17 season. He scored his first goal in the 2016/17 season against Legia Warszawa in the UEFA Champions League group stage. He became a free agent in the summer of 2020. Götze transferred to PSV in 2020.

In 2024, Götze played in 4 official matches for Frankfurt this season and contributed 1 assist in these matches.

"Going to Bayern Munich was a mistake"

In a letter to his 17-year-old self, Mario Götze said that leaving Borussia Dortmund in 2013 to transfer to Bayern Munich was a mistake.

"When Barcelona's legendary coach Pep Guardiola went to Munich and I received an offer from Bayern in the winter of 2012, my decision was also influenced by my admiration for Barcelona since my youth. I loved Barça football. I also wanted to play football. Besides Pep, the fact that I grew up in the Allgau, the proximity to Bayern Munich, my favorite club at the time, and my early childhood memories played a role in this. At that time, all kinds of clubs wanted me. Barcelona, ​​Bayern, I could go anywhere. I know that if I told you to stay in Dortmund for a longer time, you wouldn't think it would be good for you and your development."