Matthias Ginter
{{Short description|German association football player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Matthias Ginter
| image = Matthias Ginter 2019.jpg
| caption = Ginter with Germany in 2019
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|1|19|df=y}}{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/170209/matthias-ginter |title=Matthias Ginter: Overview |publisher=ESPN |access-date=26 June 2020}}
| birth_place = Freiburg im Breisgau,{{cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/matthias-ginter/ |title=Matthias Ginter: Profile |website=worldfootball.net |publisher=HEIM:SPIEL |access-date=27 January 2021}} Germany
| position = Centre-back
| currentclub = SC Freiburg
| clubnumber = 28
| youthyears1 = 1998–2005
| youthclubs1 = SC March
| youthyears2 = 2005–2012
| youthclubs2 = SC Freiburg
| years1 = 2012–2014
| clubs1 = SC Freiburg
| caps1 = 70
| goals1 = 2
| years2 = 2014–2017
| clubs2 = Borussia Dortmund
| caps2 = 67
| goals2 = 3
| years3 = 2017–2022
| clubs3 = Borussia Mönchengladbach
| caps3 = 154
| goals3 = 11
| years4 = 2022–
| clubs4 = SC Freiburg
| caps4 = 89
| goals4 = 6
| nationalyears1 = 2011–2012
| nationalteam1 = Germany U18
| nationalcaps1 = 6
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2012–2013
| nationalteam2 = Germany U19
| nationalcaps2 = 5
| nationalgoals2 = 1
| nationalyears3 = 2013–2017
| nationalteam3 = Germany U21
| nationalcaps3 = 18
| nationalgoals3 = 1
| nationalyears4 = 2016
| nationalteam4 = Germany U23
| nationalcaps4 = 5
| nationalgoals4 = 2
| nationalyears5 = 2014–
| nationalteam5 = Germany
| nationalcaps5 = 51
| nationalgoals5 = 2
| club-update = 18:26, 23 May 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 19:42, 12 June 2023 (UTC)
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's football}}
{{MedalCountry|{{fb|GER}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|FIFA World Cup}}
{{Medal|W|2014 Brazil|}}
{{MedalCompetition|FIFA Confederations Cup}}
{{Medal|W|2017 Russia|}}
{{MedalCompetition|Olympic Games}}
{{MedalSilver|2016 Rio de Janeiro|Team}}
}}
Matthias Lukas Ginter (born 19 January 1994) is a German professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Bundesliga club SC Freiburg and the Germany national team.
Club career
=Early career=
Ginter began his career with SV March before he moved to the youth squad of SC Freiburg for the 2005–06 season. With the under-19 team he won the Under-19 DFB-Pokal in 2011 and 2012.{{cite web |title=Junioren: Freiburg feiert Pokalsieg – Elfmeter-Krimi gegen Rostock |url=https://www.dfb.de/news/detail/junioren-freiburg-feiert-pokalsieg-elfmeter-krimi-gegen-rostock-27627/ |website=DFB|date=21 May 2021|access-date=27 June 2022|language=de}}{{cite web |title=SC Freiburg feiert den vierten Pokalsieg – 2:1 gegen Hertha BSC |url=https://www.dfb.de/news/detail/sc-freiburg-feiert-den-vierten-pokalsieg-21-gegen-hertha-bsc-33356/ |website=German Football Association|date=12 May 2012|access-date=27 June 2022|language=de}}
In January 2012, Ginter trained with Freiburg's first team due, in part, to a loss of several players from the roster during the winter transfer window. On 21 January 2012, Ginter made his professional debut when he was substituted in for Anton Putsila in the 70th minute against fellow relegation battlers FC Augsburg. In the 88th minute of the game, he scored the winning goal from a free-kick by Michael Lumb for his team in the 1–0 victory.{{cite web|title=Freiburg tops fellow struggler Augsburg|url=http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/bundesliga/story/freiburg-1-0-augsburg-match-report-bundesliga-matthias-ginter-nails-winner-012112|work=Fox Sports|access-date=24 January 2012 | date = 21 January 2012}} The goal, which came two days after Ginter's 18th birthday, made him SCF's youngest Bundesliga goalscorer in the club's history. The record was previously held by Dennis Aogo.{{cite web|title=Matchday 18: Facts and figures|url=http://www.bundesliga.de/en/liga/news/2011/index.php?f=0000203211.php|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120803115412/http://www.bundesliga.de/en/liga/news/2011/index.php?f=0000203211.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 August 2012|publisher=Bundesliga|access-date=24 January 2012}}
=Borussia Dortmund=
On 17 July 2014 Ginter signed for Borussia Dortmund on a five-year deal.{{cite news|title=Borussia Dortmund signs Matthias Ginter|url=http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/69/transfer-zone/2014/07/17/4964938/borussia-dortmund-signs-matthias-ginter|date=17 July 2014|access-date=30 April 2015|work=Goal}} He made his debut on 13 August, playing the full match as they won the DFL-Supercup 2–0 against Bayern Munich at the Westfalenstadion.{{cite news|title=German Supercup: Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Bayern Munich|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/28762490|website=BBC Sport|date=13 August 2014|access-date=27 April 2020}}
=Borussia Mönchengladbach=
On 4 July 2017, Ginter signed with Dortmund rivals Mönchengladbach on a four-year deal. The move was worth around €17 million.{{cite news|title=Matthias Ginter: Borussia Monchengladbach sign Dortmund defender|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40494363|access-date=4 July 2017|website=BBC Sport|date=4 July 2017}}
=Return to SC Freiburg=
On 4 May 2022, Freiburg (the club where Ginter began his career) announced Ginter's signing from Mönchengladbach on a free transfer ahead of the 2022–23 season.{{Cite web |title=Matthias Ginter returns to SC Freiburg |url=https://www.scfreiburg.com/en/news/news/first-team/news/20212022/matthias-ginter-returns-to-sc-freiburg/|website=SC Freiburg|date = 4 May 2022}}
International career
=Youth=
Ginter represented the under-21 team at the 2015 European Championship in the Czech Republic, starting all four matches. In their second group match at the Eden Arena in Prague against Denmark, following two Kevin Volland goals, Ginter rounded off the scoring by heading in Amin Younes' cross in the 53rd minute, leading to a 3–0 victory.{{cite news|last1=Kell|first1=Tom|title=Volland double helps Germany defeat Denmark|url=https://www.uefa.com/under21/news/0257-0ded72faba50-b170de5433dc-1000--volland-double-helps-germany-defeat-denmark/|website=UEFA|date=20 June 2015}}
=Senior=
File:2019-06-11 Fußball, Männer, Länderspiel, Deutschland-Estland StP 2205 LR10 by Stepro.jpg
On 5 March 2014, Ginter debuted for the German senior squad after coming on as a 90th-minute substitute for Mesut Özil in the 1–0 win over Chile in a friendly match at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.{{cite news|title=International friendly: Mario Gotze's first-half strike helps Germany edge out Chile 1–0|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/303522/report|website=Sky Sports|date=5 March 2014}} He became the 900th player to be capped by the Germany national team.{{cite web|title=Matthias Gingler der 900.Nationalspieler|date=6 March 2014|url=http://www.fussballnationalmannschaft.net/matthias-gingler-der-900-nationalspieler-1232836.html|publisher=fussballnationalmannschaft.net|access-date=7 July 2014 | language = de}} In June 2014, he was named as the youngest player in Germany's 23-man squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup,{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/germany/10810439/Germany-World-Cup-2014-squad.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/germany/10810439/Germany-World-Cup-2014-squad.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Germany World Cup 2014 squad|website=The Telegraph|date=2 June 2014|access-date=22 June 2014}}{{cbignore}} which went on to win the tournament, although he did not enter the field of play at any point.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/nov/16/which-player-has-been-to-most-major-football-tournaments-without-playing-knowledge |title=Which footballer has been to most major tournaments without playing? |website=The Guardian |date=16 November 2022 }}
He was part of the squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics, where Germany won the silver medal.{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/mensolympic/news/y=2016/m=8/news=neymar-s-golden-penalty-sees-brazil-to-victory-2823069.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821102147/http://www.fifa.com/mensolympic/news/y=2016/m=8/news=neymar-s-golden-penalty-sees-brazil-to-victory-2823069.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 August 2016|title=Neymar's golden penalty sees Brazil to victory|date=20 August 2016|website=FIFA}}
Along with fellow World Cup-winner Shkodran Mustafi and Julian Draxler,{{cite news |url=https://www.dfb.de/news/detail/leroy-sane-faellt-fuer-confederations-cup-aus-167883/ |title=Leroy Sané fällt für Confederations Cup aus |trans-title=Leroy Sané drops out for Confederations Cup |website=DFB.de |publisher=German Football Association |date=23 May 2017 |access-date=14 November 2018 |language=German}} Ginter won the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup.{{cite news|first=Ross|last=Dunbar|title=Victory shows Germany doesn't produce second string players|url=https://www.dw.com/en/opinion-confed-cup-victory-shows-germany-doesnt-produce-second-string-players/a-39514393|website=Deutsche Welle|date=3 July 2017 }}
On 4 June 2018, Ginter was selected in Germany's final 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.{{cite web|url=http://www.dw.com/en/germany-announce-final-world-cup-squad-with-manuel-neuer-without-leroy-san%C3%A9/a-44064011|title=Germany announce final World Cup squad, with Manuel Neuer, without Leroy Sané|website=Deutsche Welle|access-date=4 June 2018}} He would not play, making him the only outfield player in German football history who participated in two World Cup campaigns without playing a single minute. Ginter scored his first goal for Germany on 16 November 2019 in a match against Belarus.{{cite web |url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/germany-belarus-live-euro-2020-line-ups-stats-reus-neuer-havertz-werner-8143 |title=Germany seal Euro 2020 berth with Belarus win |website=Bundesliga |date=16 November 2019 }}
On 19 May 2021, he was selected to the squad for the UEFA Euro 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.kicker.de/em-kader-offiziell-loew-beruft-mueller-hummels-und-volland-804642/artikel|title=EM-Kader offiziell: Löw beruft Müller, Hummels und Volland|website=kicker|date=19 May 2021|language=de}}
In November 2022, he was named in the final squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.{{cite web |url=https://www.dfb.de/news/detail/flick-beruft-moukoko-fuellkrug-und-goetze-in-wm-kader-245974/ |title=Flick beruft Moukoko, Füllkrug und Götze in WM-Kader |trans-title=Flick names Moukoko, Füllkrug and Götze to World Cup squad |publisher=German Football Association |date=10 November 2022 |access-date=10 November 2022 |language=de}} On 1 December, he made his World Cup debut in his third tournament, coming on as a substitute to Niklas Süle in the 90+3 minute, in a 4–2 win over Costa Rica in the last group stage match.{{cite web |title=Ginter entgeht Negativ-Rekord |url=https://www.sport1.de/news/fussball/wm/2022/12/wm-2022-matthias-ginter-wendet-negativ-rekord-im-dfb-dress-ab|website=sport1.de|date=2 December 2022|language=de}}
Personal life
In May 2018, Ginter married his wife Christina.{{cite web|url=https://www.stern.de/lifestyle/leute/christina-raphaella-ginter-christina-ginter-ist-die-schoenste-spielerfrau-8119784.html|title=Christina Ginter ist die schönste Spielerfrau|website=stern.de|date=11 June 2018 |language=de|access-date=1 August 2018}} In 2020 their son was born on Ginter's own birthday, 19 January.
In October 2021, the team where Ginter started his career, SC March, renamed their stadium "Matthias-Ginter-Sportpark".[https://www.swr.de/sport/fussball/sc-march-stadion-matthias-ginter-100.html Bezirksligist SC March benennt Stadion nach Matthias Ginter]
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 10 May 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/matthias-ginter/226353/|title=M. Ginter|website=Soccerway|access-date=26 November 2016}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | |||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|DFB-Pokal !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals | |||||||||
| rowspan="4"|SC Freiburg
|rowspan="3"|Bundesliga |13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 13 | 1 | ||
| 2012–13
|23 | 1 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 26 | 1 | ||
| 2013–14
|34 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 42 | 3 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!70 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 81 | 5 | |
| rowspan="4"|Borussia Dortmund
|rowspan="3"|Bundesliga |14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}} | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearance in DFL-Supercup}} | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| 2015–16
|24 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 11{{efn|name=UEL}} | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 40 | 4 | |
| 2016–17
|29 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 8{{efn|name=UCL}} | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 0 |
| colspan="2"|Total
!67 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 24 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 102 | 4 |
| rowspan="6"|Borussia Mönchengladbach
|rowspan="5"|Bundesliga |34 | 5 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 37 | 5 | ||
| 2018–19
|27 | 2 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 29 | 2 | ||
| 2019–20
|31 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4{{efn|name=UEL}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 36 | 1 | |
| 2020–21
|34 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 8{{efn|name=UCL}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 46 | 2 | |
| 2021–22
|28 | 1 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 31 | 1 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!154 | 11 | 13 | 0 | 12 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 179 | 11 | |
| rowspan="4"|SC Freiburg
|rowspan="3"|Bundesliga |34 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 8{{efn|name=UEL}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 47 | 5 | |
| 2023–24
|23 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9{{efn|name=UEL}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 34 | 0 | |
| 2024–25
|31 | 2 | 2 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 33 | 3 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!88 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 17 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 114 | 8 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!379 | 22 | 38 | 4 | 58 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 476 | 28 |
{{notelist}}
=International=
{{updated|match played 12 June 2023}}{{NFT}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="11"|Germany | |||
| 2014 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2020 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2021 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 3 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total | 51 | 2 |
:As of match played 25 March 2023. Germany score listed first, score column indicates score after each Ginter goal.
| class="wikitable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Matthias Ginter | ||||||
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align=center | 1 | 16 November 2019 | Borussia-Park, Mönchengladbach, Germany | {{fb|BLR}} | align=center | 1–0 | align=center | 4–0 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualification |
| align=center | 2 | 10 October 2020 | NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kyiv, Ukraine | {{fb|UKR}} | align=center | 1–0 | align=center | 2–1 | 2020–21 UEFA Nations League A |
Honours
Borussia Dortmund
Germany
- FIFA World Cup: 2014{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=255959/match=300186501/report.html |title=Match report: Germany – Argentina |publisher=FIFA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190817004102/https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=255959/match=300186501/report.html |archive-date=17 August 2019}}
- FIFA Confederations Cup: 2017{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/confederationscup/matches/round=274645/match=300334881/report.html |title=Match report: Chile – Germany |publisher=FIFA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629203614/https://www.fifa.com/confederationscup/matches/round=274645/match=300334881/report.html |archive-date=29 June 2019}}
Germany Olympic
- Summer Olympic Games silver medal: 2016{{cite web |url=https://library.olympic.org/Default/digitalCollection/DigitalCollectionAttachmentDownloadHandler.ashx?parentDocumentId=165312&documentId=165340 |title=Rio 2016 Football Results Book: Medallists |website=Olympic World Library |date=20 August 2016 |page=7 }}
Individual
- Fritz Walter Medal U18 Gold: 2012{{cite web|title=SC Freiburg: Ginter ist U18-Nachwuchsspieler des Jahres 2012|url=http://www.badische-zeitung.de/sport/scfreiburg/sc-freiburg-ginter-ist-u18-nachwuchsspieler-des-jahres-2012|publisher=Badische Zeitung|date=30 July 2012|language=de}}
- Fritz Walter Medal U19 Gold: 2013{{cite web|url=https://www.dfb.de/news/de/d-talente/fritz-walter-medaille-ginter-auf-goetzes-spuren/45774.html |title=Fritz-Walter-Medaille: Ginter auf Götzes Spuren|website=German Football Association|date=14 August 2013|access-date=15 August 2013|language=de}}
- Germany national team Player of the Year: 2019{{Cite web |url=http://dw.com/en/matthias-ginter-the-spare-part-who-became-the-main-man-for-germany/a-51953595 |title=Ginter, best national German player of 2018 |date=20 January 2020 |publisher=Deutsche Welle |access-date=20 January 2020}}
- kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2019–20,{{cite news |url=https://www.kicker.de/sechsmal_bayern_einmal_gladbach_die_kicker_elf_der_saison-778646/slideshow |title=Sechsmal Bayern, einmal Gladbach: Die kicker-Elf der Saison (2019/20) |publisher=kicker|date=3 July 2020 |access-date=3 September 2020|language=de}} 2020–21,{{cite news |url=https://www.kicker.de/sechs-klubs-dabei-die-kicker-elf-der-saison-2020-21-805773/slideshow |title=Sechs Klubs dabei: Die kicker-Elf der Saison 2020/21 |publisher=kicker|date=1 June 2021 |access-date=1 June 2021|language=de}} 2022–23,{{cite news |url=https://www.kicker.de/bayern-bvb-freiburg-und-rb-doppelt-vertreten-die-kicker-elf-der-saison-954763/artikel |title=Bayern, BVB, Freiburg und RB doppelt vertreten: Die kicker-Elf der Saison|publisher=kicker|date=8 June 2023 |access-date=8 June 2023|language=de}} 2024–25{{cite news |url=https://www.kicker.de/mit-bayern-und-bayer-trio-die-kicker-elf-der-saison-1120014/slideshow |title=Mit Bayern- und Bayer-Trio: Die kicker-Elf der Saison|publisher=kicker|date=20 May 2025 |access-date=20 May 2025|language=de}}
- Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards – Favorite Football Player (Germany, Austria, & Switzerland) nominee: 2020{{cite web|date=14 June 2020|title=NickALive!: Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards 2020: Celebrate Together International Nominees, Winners and Airdates|url=http://nickalive.blogspot.com/2020/02/nickelodeon-kids-choice-awards-2020.html|access-date=5 March 2021|website=NickALive!}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{UEFA player}}
- {{fussballdaten}}
- {{kicker}}
- {{Olympics.com|matthias-ginter}}
- {{DOSB profile}}
- {{Olympedia}}
{{SC Freiburg squad}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Germany squads
| bg = white
| fg = black
| bordercolor = black
| list1 =
{{Germany squad 2014 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Germany men's football squad 2016 Summer Olympics}}
{{Germany squad 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup}}
{{Germany squad 2018 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Germany squad UEFA Euro 2020}}
{{Germany squad 2022 FIFA World Cup}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| list1 =
{{2019–20 kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season}}
{{2020–21 kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season}}
{{2022–23 kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season}}
{{2024–25 kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season}}
{{Fritz Walter Medal Under-18}}
{{Fritz Walter Medal Under-19}}
{{Germany Player of the Year}}
}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ginter, Matthias}}
Category:Footballers from Freiburg im Breisgau
Category:German men's footballers
Category:Germany men's youth international footballers
Category:Germany men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Germany men's international footballers
Category:Men's association football central defenders
Category:Borussia Dortmund players
Category:Borussia Dortmund II players
Category:Borussia Mönchengladbach players
Category:2014 FIFA World Cup players
Category:2017 FIFA Confederations Cup players
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Category:UEFA Euro 2020 players
Category:2022 FIFA World Cup players
Category:FIFA World Cup–winning players
Category:FIFA Confederations Cup–winning players
Category:Olympic footballers for Germany
Category:Footballers at the 2016 Summer Olympics
Category:Medalists at the 2016 Summer Olympics
Category:Olympic silver medalists for Germany