The German defender who made history by waiting for his World Cup moment

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Matthias Ginter is a decorated German footballer known for a unique statistical anomaly. Despite being part of two separate World Cup squads, he spent years on the sidelines before finally stepping onto the pitch in his third tournament. His career spans top-tier clubs and a legacy honored in his hometown.

Born on 19 January 1994, Matthias Ginter began his professional journey with SC Freiburg. He made an immediate impact in January 2012, scoring the winning goal in his Bundesliga debut just two days after turning 18. This feat established him as the youngest goalscorer in the club's history at that time. His early promise led to a career across several major German clubs, including Borussia Dortmund and Mönchengladbach, before he returned to his roots at Freiburg.

Ginter's international career is defined by both immense success and unusual patience. He was the youngest member of the German squad that won the 2014 FIFA World Cup, though he did not play during the tournament. By the time the 2018 FIFA World Cup arrived, he had become the only outfield player in German football history to participate in two World Cup campaigns without logging a single minute of play. This streak finally ended during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he made his debut as a substitute in a match against Costa Rica.

Beyond the World Cup, Ginter has been a consistent presence in German football. He earned the German national team Player of the Year award in 2019 and has been named to the kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season four times between 2019 and 2025. His influence extends to his early beginnings; in October 2021, SV March, the club where he started, renamed their stadium the Matthias-Ginter-Sportpark. His career remains a testament to longevity, evidenced by his role in reaching the Europa League final in 2026.

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