
Is Leon Goretzka Germany’s best midfielder?
Just a few months ago Leon Goretzka appeared to be on the fringes for both Bayern Munich and Germany, but such has been the 30-year-old’s form of late that the question is worth asking: is he Germany’s best midfielder?
But what about Joshua Kimmich, we hear you cry? As fine a player as he is, Kimmich is first-choice right-back under head coach Julian Nagelsmann, which has freed up space in the middle of the pitch.
Space that Goretzka has now claimed as his own. It certainly didn’t look like that would be the case at the start of this season, however. Despite Harry Kane being the only Bayern player with more Bundesliga minutes in 2023/24, Goretzka was left out of Germany’s squad for the 2024 European Championship on home turf.
The rise of club-mate Aleksandar Pavlović at the Allianz Arena was a factor in that, but even when the youngster, 10 years Goretzka’s junior, had to withdraw from the tournament due to tonsilitis, Emre Can was brought in as his replacement, joining Pascal Groß, Toni Kroos, İlkay Gündoğan and Robert Andrich as the team’s central midfield options.
Watch: Goretzka up close

There were widespread reports in the German media that Goretzka was surplus to requirements at Bayern ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, especially with João Palhinha arriving to vie for playing time in the centre alongside Kimmich, Pavlović and Konrad Laimer.
So how has it gone from that to the current situation, in which Goretzka is not only back in the Bayern first team but has also returned to the international fold and even fired Germany to victory over Italy in the first leg of the teams’ UEFA Nations League quarter-final encounter?
The answer it appears, is doubling down on hard work and proving himself all over again. “Leon’s story is good for the team,” said head coach Vincent Kompany recently. “There are other guys who have had periods when things weren’t going so well. Leon always worked hard, he was always hungry in training. He responded in the right way, with his feet and not with words.”
An unused substitute in four of Bayern’s opening five Bundesliga games of the season, left out of the squad entirely on Matchday 3, and coming off the bench four times for a combined total of 58 minutes up until Matchday 9, Goretzka simply kept going and was ready when Bayern needed him.
And boy have they needed him. Injuries to Pavlović and Palhinha may have left the door ajar for him to find his way back, but he shoved it open. Now, even with the aforementioned duo available again, Goretzka starts.
He has featured in all 16 of Bayern’s most recent league assignments, starting 10, scoring four and providing one assist, while he has started seven times in the UEFA Champions League, including every game from Matchday 5 onwards to help his side into the quarter-finals.
“We always supported him and we knew that his time would come,” said Manuel Neuer in January after Goretzka scored twice in a 3-2 win over Wolfsburg. “He’s always given it his all and this is his reward.”
“The way he trains and the way he always performs when he’s on the pitch is exemplary,” said board member for sport Max Eberl.
Watch: Highlights of Bayern's Goretzka-inspired win over Wolfsburg

His impressive attitude and application aside, there’s a lot to like about the 1.89m (6’2”) hulk. Part of a seemingly dying breed of box-to-box midfielders, Goretzka can do it all. He’s had 24 shots on goal in the Bundesliga this term but has also won 126 tackles, committed 11 fouls and received two yellow cards.
All of which caught Nagelsmann’s eye, with the tactician handing Goretzka his first international call-up since November 2023. The midfielder repaid his coach with a standout, match-winning display against Italy.
“I’m very happy for him,” said Nagelsmann afterwards. “I thought he had a great game, especially in the second half, both defensively and with his presence in the box. He influenced the game both in attack and defence. It was a top performance.
“It’s generally advisable in life not to give up on everything just like that. Leon has proven that it’s worth persisting.”
So is Goretzka the best option for Germany’s midfield? That decision ultimately lies with Nagelsmann, but if he starts again against Italy then we may well have our answer.
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