Bayern Munich representatives take centre stage as GOAL runs down the finest players to have graced the German top flight since 2000
It's no secret that the Bundesliga has been a one-sided competition over the last 25 years. Bayern Munich have won the title a staggering 17 times, with 11 of those triumphs coming in succession between 2012 and 2023, and, as such, they're automatically installed as favourites heading into every new season.
That kind of superiority has not been seen in any of Europe's other four major leagues, which has led to the Bundesliga being written off as the weakest in some circles. Bayern always have the best players, with many of them often joining from their domestic rivals, who simply cannot compete with the Bavarian club's financial might. The Allianz Arena is considered the premier destination for those plying their trade in Germany, and that will probably never change.
However, that doesn't mean Bayern are the only great club in the Bundesliga, or the only one to have housed superstars at the peak of their powers.
Borussia Dortmund have lifted theon three occasions since the turn of the millennium, while Bayer Leverkusen, Wolfsburg, Stuttgart and Werder Bremen have each tasted success once. Bayern haven't always had their own way, and instant hero status has been bestowed on the few footballers who have managed to inspire their downfall.
But how many of them have made GOAL's list of the 25 best Bundesliga players of the 21st century so far? And have any of them been unable to unseat Bayern's finest at the top end of the rankings? All will be revealed below…
DDP25Lucio
Lucio, was a hulking centre-back with no weaknesses. He was quick for a big man, had endless stamina, and his galloping runs out of defence (which earned him the nickname ) were an awe-inspiring sight. Leverkusen gave Lucio the platform to prove himself in Europe when prising him away from Internacional in January 2001, and he quickly became their all-conquering leader, inspiring a surprise run to fourth-place in the Bundesliga. His first full season at Bay Arena was even more impressive as Leverkusen came agonisingly close to winning everything.
The Brazilian even scored a bullet header in the Champions League final, but Leverkusen ended up losing to Real Madrid, and also finished runners-up in the DFB-Pokal and Bundesliga. Lucio stayed loyal to Leverkusen until 2004, when the lure of Bayern proved too much to ignore, and he helped his new club to a domestic treble in his debut campaign.
Two more league titles followed for Lucio, who was described as "absolutely exceptional in every aspect" by former Bayern boss Felix Magath. Lucio will go down as one of the all-time great ball-playing defenders, and Bundesliga audiences were fortunate to witness the prime years of his career.
AdvertisementAFP24Mario Gomez
Gomez wasn't a skillful player, and often saw his work-rate questioned, but there was no denying he was an expert poacher with razor-sharp instincts in the box. He could finish with both feet and excelled in the air, which also helped him to emerge as an accomplished target man.
Bayern put those skills to great use between 2009 and 2013, as Gomez scored 113 goals on his way to earning four domestic titles and a Champions League winners' medal. But the most satisfying triumph of Gomez's career was surely the Bundesliga crown he won with an unfancied Stuttgart side in 2006-07.
He scored 14 goals in 25 appearances to help Stuttgart get over the line, and received a hero's welcome when he returned to the club for a second stint in 2018. Gomez also enjoyed a short but productive spell at Wolfsburg, and finished his career with a hugely impressive 170 Bundesliga goals.
AFP23Mario Gotze
Famously dubbed the 'German Messi' by Franz Beckenbauer, Gotze enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence at Borussia Dortmund, making his first-team debut at 17. He went on to play a central role in BVB's back-to-back Bundesliga triumphs under Jurgen Klopp, and stood out with his flawless technique.
Gotze could play on either wing, in central midfield or as a false nine, and his nimble footwork and eye for a killer pass often left supporters in awe. Bayern triggered his €37 million (£30m/$40m) release clause in the summer of 2013, which made him the most expensive German player ever at the time, and he hit 15 goals in his debut season at Allianz Arena.
Bayern never really saw the best of Gotze consistently, though. Gotze went into a steep physical decline at a young age, which led Bayern to sell him back to Dortmund, and he was unable to recapture his best form at Westfalenstadion. Now 32, Gotze is plying his trade at Eintracht Frankfurt, having adapted his game successfully to remain at a high level, and was a key figure in the club's run to the 2022-23 DFB-Pokal final with five assists in six games.
AFP22Edin Dzeko
Dzeko is best known for his time in the Premier League with Manchester City, and has also been a potent marksman for the likes of Roma, Inter and Fenerbahce, but he forged his reputation at the Volkswagen Arena in Wolfsburg.
The Bosnian ace hit 85 goals across four seasons for Die Wolfe, including 26 in their historic 2008-09 campaign. Wolfsburg stormed to their first-ever Bundesliga crown as Dzeko forged an incredible partnership with Brazilian striker Grafite, with both players scoring a brace in a thumping 5-1 home win over Bayern.
Dzeko also won the Golden Boot the following season and made it into the Bundesliga Team of the Year twice. At times, Wolfsburg's prized asset was unplayable as he combined raw power with finesse, proving to be one of the bargains of the century after his initial €4m move from Czech outfit Teplice.
