One of only two players in the world to have played in five World Cups (1982, 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1998) ... Mexican goalkeeper Antonio Carbajal is the other player to have appeared in five World Cups ... His 139 appearances rank third all-time in the world ... Has played in a record 25 World Cup matches, four more than the 21 held by three players, including Argentina's Diego Maradona ... His 2,048 World Cup minutes are first all-time ... Has scored six goals in his 25 World Cup matches ... Was a member of three German teams that went to the World Cup Final (1982, 1986, 1990), including the West German squad that won Italia '90 ... Was captain of the West German squad that won Italia '90 ... Made his international debut in 1982 against Portugal ... Made his World Cup debut in a 4-1 win over Chile on June 20, 1982 ... Played in two games (both as a sub) as a 21-year-old at Espana '82 ... At World Cup Mexico 1986, he scored the game-winner against Morocco in the round of 16 ... Matthäus was given a man-marking job on Argentina's Diego Maradona as West Germany lost 3-2 ... At Italia '90, Matthäus scored four goals from his midfield position ... Played most World Cup games at his then homeground, Stadio San Siro, at Italia '90 ... Went head-to-head with Tampa Bay midfielder Carlos Valderrama in a 1-1 draw vs. Colombia on June 19, 1990 ... At World Cup USA 1994, he moved to sweeper as Germany was knocked out by Bulgaria in the quarterfinal ... Matthäus scored Germany's lone goal in the 2-1 loss to Bulgaria on July 9, 1994 ... Played against D.C. United's Marco Etcheverry in the opening match, a 1-0 Germany win over Bolivia on June 17, 1994 in Chicago |