Max Meyer turns 30: His unique career in pictures
Happy 30th birthday, Max Meyer! It wasn't so long ago that the Oberhausen native was considered the next big thing in German football. But then Meyer embarked on a career that left question marks. And, spoiler alert, it's far from over!
sports photo service / ActionPictures / IMAGO
A-Junior Champion 2012
Together with heroes like Philipp Hofmann, Sead Kolasinac, and Kaan Ayhan, Meyer won the U19 championship with FC Schalke 04 in 2012. They defeated Bayern Munich and Massimo Schüpp, er, Alessandro Schöpf, 2-1 in the final. That Meyer's path to the Bundesliga would lead was already considered certain.
Bundesliga debut 2013
No sooner said than done: In February 2013, Meyer came on as a substitute for Raffael during a away game against Mainz. And in the 82nd minute, he set up Michel Bastos' goal to make it 2-2.
National team debut 2014
In May 2014, Meyer made his debut for the German national team. He played 77 minutes in a 0-0 friendly against Poland. Pictured here: a team that didn't play together as well afterward. Bonus points for anyone who recognizes the number 14.
First Champions League goal 2014
In Maribor, Meyer scored his first goal in the Champions League. Congratulations included Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Christian Fuchs.
2016 Olympics
Meyer's greatest moments for Germany, meanwhile, came at the Olympic football tournament. Meyer scored four goals, including the 1-1 equalizer in the final against Brazil (scorer of the opening goal: Neymar, of course). Germany lost to the Brazilians in a penalty shootout. Silver – after all!
Only international goal in 2016
In August 2016, Meyer scored his first and only international goal against Finland. And that was in...
...World Champion Bastian Schweinsteiger's last international match. There were quite a few people who saw Meyer as a potential successor in central midfield. Spoiler alert: It didn't quite work out.
U21 European Champion 2017
At that time, Meyer was still young enough to participate in the European Championship in Poland with the German U21 team—and, for the sake of simplicity, even won it. In the final against Spain, Mitchell Weiser shot the team, including Meyer, Maxi Arnold, Thilo Kehrer, and Serge Gnabry, to the title.
Runner-up 2018
Meyer made 192 appearances for S04. The highlight: the 2018 runner-up title under Domenico Tedesco. Here in the background: Naldo, who's celebrating some seemingly very significant goal in Dortmund—does anyone know more?!
The “world-class player” gate
The rift between Schalke and Max Meyer is legendary. Then-S04 sporting director Christian Heidel wanted to keep the player, but his agent at the time, Roger Wittmann, had nothing but scorn for Schalke's first offer. Wittmann is said to have told Heidel: "I'm talking about the world-class player Max Meyer, who will be a regular in every top European team and is most likely going to the World Cup in Russia. If we're talking about the same player, you can send me an offer. If we're talking about different players, you don't need to send me an offer." Heidel did as he was told. And consequently, he didn't send another offer.
Transfer to Crystal Palace 2018
And so began his wild journey: In 2018, Meyer moved abroad for the first time, joining Crystal Palace and becoming one of the 20 highest-paid players in the Premier League. But that didn't really work out in sporting terms. Meyer made 56 appearances in just under two and a half years. The only thing that really stuck with him from that time?
This fantastic fail on Crystal Palace's website. Greetings, Joshua Kimmich!
Lambo-Gate 2020
Max's father Achim caused a scandal in 2020: Meyer Senior filmed himself driving and said: "It couldn't be better, men, it couldn't be better. Through the forbidden city, Gelsenkirchen. Off to the tax advisor, nicely in the Lamborghini paid for by the bankrupt club. Wonderful." A legendary video . Meyer Junior distanced himself from the clip shortly afterward via Instagram, writing: "I am deeply shocked by this video. This doesn't fit into my world, it doesn't fit into this time, it doesn't fit into any time at all. I owe Schalke 04 a great deal and I firmly distance myself from the nature and content of this video."
Move to Cologne 2021
Things didn't change noticeably for Meyer upon his return to Germany. He made 12 appearances for Effzeh before finally heading south to...
Transfer to Fenerbahce summer 2021
... Istanbul! Suddenly, Max Meyer was playing for Fenerbahce alongside Mesut Özil and Luiz Gustavo. But it was another brief stint. After just 12 games, it was over. In the meantime, Meyer tried out a loan spell at...
Move to Midtjylland January 2022
… Denmark. Meyer failed to score a point in 13 matches for FC Midtjylland.
Move to Lucerne August 2022
The wild journey continued: Meyer's next stop was at FC Luzern. And lo and behold...
...that really worked! Meyer played 74 games for Lucerne. Finally, there was no more scorn at his departure, but tears and fond memories. And now...
Move to Nicosia summer 2024
...Meyer has settled in Cyprus. The now 30-year-old is a regular starter at Apoel Nicosia, and in 2024/25 he was named one of the best players of the season. Add to that great weather and a relaxed professional life far from the hustle and bustle: it could truly be worse!
11freunde
