TODAY BIRTHDAY | The former PSV player who scored the winning goal in the 2014 World Cup final

In the run-up to the 2026 World Cup, PSVInside draws attention to some World Cup facts related to PSV. On 3 June, no less than former PSV player and World Cup winner Mario Götze celebrates his birthday.

In October 2020, Götze took to adventures with Borussia Dortmund, FC Bayern Munchen and once again Borussia Dortmund unexpectedly landed at PSV. The midfielder was available on a free transfer after the management of Die Schwarzgelben decided not to renew the contract of the former youth player of BVB.

After two seasons with PSV, the former German wonderkid left for the Bundesliga again in the summer of 2022 to play for Eintracht Frankfurt. At the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Götze still played a major role for Die Mannschaft on the way to the fourth world title.

The former PSV player was one of the 23 players selected for the World Cup by the then national team coach Joachim Löw. In the group stage, Germany was in Group G against Portugal, Ghana and the United States, and in the first two matches Götze was of great value for Die Mannschaft.

In the match against Portugal, the midfielder and winger managed to win a penalty that was converted by Thomas Müller, and ultimately the Germans managed to lay the Portuguese low with 4-0. In the second group match against Ghana, Götze was responsible for the opening goal shortly after halftime, but despite that, the Ghanaians managed to make it 1-2 in the 63rd minute.

In the end it was striker Miroslav Klose, who came on in the 69th minute for the midfielder, who managed in the 71st minute to save the Germans from defeat (2-2). After the match, Götze was chosen as Man of the Match.

In the final group match against the United States, Götze had to be content with a substitute role, and in the 76th minute he was allowed to come on for Bastian Schweinsteiger. Germany won 0-1 thanks to a goal by Thomas Müller in the 55th minute and as a result Die Mannschaft went through as group winners to the round of 16 against Algeria.

Against the North African side, Götze appeared from the kickoff, but stayed in the dressing room during the break to the advantage of André Schürrle. In the end, Germany managed to win 2-1 and advance to the quarterfinals, where a meeting with France was awaiting.

The formation of Löw won 0-1 thanks to an early goal by Mats Hummels, and Götze was allowed to come on in the 83rd minute for Mesut Özil. In the historic semi-final match against host nation Brazil (1-7), the midfielder stayed on the bench for the entire match and in the final against Argentina as well the former wonderkid had to be content with a substitute role.

Nonetheless, Götze would make himself immortal in Germany that day. Just before the end of official playing time, the midfielder came on for striker Miroslav Klose and the rest is history.

In the 113th minute of extra time, Götze received the ball from a cross by Schürrle, after which the midfielder brought the ball under control with his chest and, with his left leg, managed to fire the ball behind the Argentine goalkeeper Sergio Romero, enabling Germany to win the world title for the first time since 1990. After the match, Götze was named Man of the Match.