Mario Götze

Mario Götze (born 3 June 1992) is a German footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Borussia Dortmund in the German Bundesliga. He primarily plays as an attacking midfielder and a right winger, although he has also been deployed in central midfield. Götze is considered to be an up-and-coming, potential world class player due to his speed, technical skill and creativity. German Football Association's technical director Matthias Sammer called him "one of the best talents that we've ever had".

Götze is a product of Dortmund's youth academy, first entering the club as an 8-year-old. He made his Bundesliga debut on 21 November 2009 in a 0–0 draw against 1. FSV Mainz 05, coming on as a substitute for Jakub Błaszczykowski in the 88th minute. During the 2010–11 Bundesliga season, Borussia Dortmund manager Jürgen Klopp promoted Mario Götze to the first team, since Shinji Kagawa had suffered an injury and was unable to play for the rest of the season. Götze took his chance and was an important player in Dortmund's championship winning team. He scored six goals and made 15 assists, making him the best 18-year old player in the Bundesliga since the accurate goal and assist data have been recorded (since 2004–05).

At the opening game of the 2011–12 Bundesliga, against Hamburger SV, Götze scored one goal and provided two assists in the 3–1 win.

After ascending through several youth teams, Mario Götze was called up for his first senior match for Germany against Sweden, on 17 November 2010. He made his debut that day, coming on in the 78th minute in a goalless draw, substituting for his Dortmund teammate Kevin Großkreutz and becoming the youngest German international since Uwe Seeler. Götze and André Schürrle who came on simultaneously are the first two Germany players to be born in reunified Germany. He made his second appearance for the national team in a friendly match against Italy on 9 February 2011.

Götze's first goal for Germany was against Brazil on 10 August 2011; at 19 years and 68 days he became the joint-youngest goalscorer for the German national team in the post-war era along with Klaus Stürmer who scored on debut against France on 16 October 1954.