Everything you need to know about Germany and Bayer Leverkusen sensation Florian Wirtz!

Florian Wirtz is a highly talented and promising German football player who has already made a name for himself at the age of just 19. He currently plays as an attacking midfielder for Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga and the German national team.

Wirtz was born on May 3, 2003, in Pulheim, Germany. He began playing football at a young age and joined the youth academy of his boyhood team FC Cologne. He quickly made an impression with his skills on the ball and his ability to create chances and score goals.

He was dubbed as the best midfielder to come through the club in 30 years by local newspaper Kolner Express, and European big-wigs were all circling after Wirtz captained boyhood team Cologne to Under-17 German Championship glory in 2019, but Leverkusen eventually won the race, and prized him from Cologne in 2020.

The then-teenage star was swiftly promoted into the first team, becoming Leverkusen’s youngest-ever debutant at the age of 17 years and 16 days, surpassing Kai Havertz’ record, in the 4-1 thrashing of Werder Bremen in 2019-20. After a handful of appearances in the coronavirus-hit campaign, Wirtz played 29 Bundesliga games, which yielded five goals and as many assists in 2020-21 campaign.

He excelled even more in the following season, contributing to 17 goals from 24 league games (7 goals, 10 assists). His development was hampered by a painful ACL injury last year that kept him sidelined for almost six months.

However, he has shown some positive signs of regaining his peak form since returning from the long injury lay-off, helping in Leverkusen's revival under boss Xabi Alonso after their wretched start to the campaign under previous management.

On international level, the 19-year-old has already earned six caps for the German national team, having made his international debut under boss Hansi Flick in the 2-0 win over Liechtenstein in 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying in September, although he couldn't play a part in the finals at Qatar due to a serious injury.

At youth international level, Wirtz notably scored twice in the U21 Euro semi-final as Germany went on to win the tournament. Because of his promise, he is widely considered as one of the pillars of the national team's future, as well as one of the top talents that the country has produced in recent years.

Here are 13 fun facts about Florian Wirtz you need to know!

Comes from a footballing family

Florian Wirtz's father, Hans-Joachim, was a former football player who played in the lower leagues of German football. His father alongside his mother, Karin, are his agents. His father is the chairman of local football club SV Grun-Weiss Brauweiller, where Florian spent the early years of his fooball career before joining Cologne.

It's clear that football runs in the family and he may have contributed to Florian's passion for the sport. His work ethic must also derive in some way from a football crazed family. What's more, is that his sister is also a professional football player.

AdvertisementHis sister also plays for Leverkusen

The sport is ingrained in the Wirtz family. And you would be surprised to know, Florian Wirtz’s elder sister Juliane Wirtz plies her trade with Bayer Leverkusen's women’s team.

In fact, it's Florian who followed in the footsteps of his older sister in terms of clubs. They both started their careers as youth players at Grun-Weiss Brauweiler before a move to FC Cologne and eventually their current club, Bayer Leverkusen.

When asked about the same in an interview with Leverkusen's official website, Florian said: "We were in the same team right at the beginning although she is two years older. But after that I quickly went from Brauweiler to FC Koln and that was that. There are very few members the family who haven't played football at all. That's why football is always on TV at our place. For us, a lot of things happen around football."

Getty Composite Compared with Kai Havertz

An attacking midfielder who is also capable of playing as a winger, Wirtz has been compared to former Bayer Leverkusen player Kai Havertz, who left Bayer Leverkusen for Chelsea in 2020,and the 18-year-old himself has admitted that his ex-teammate is a role model for him.

"Kai is only 21 but he has proved himself at the highest level for many years: in the Bundesliga, the Champions League and now with Chelsea in the Premier League. Those are bits unpleasant for me to be compared with him as a 16 or 17-year-old. I thought he might think: 'Why they comparing such a small lad with me?' It was a bit strange for me that everything was blown up in the media although hardly anybody knew me or had seen me play. But I've always got on very well with him," said Wirtz in an interview with the club website.

He continued: "Of course, Kai is a role model. He gave me a few good tips and I was able to learn a lot above all in training. He was definitely somebody I could look up to. I was particularly impressed with his first contact with the ball and it was better than that than anybody else in the team. That enabled him to take virtually every chance in front of goal and he was able to position himself perfectly to receive good balls."

Having made tentative steps into the first team, upon the departure of Havertz, the 19-year-old took on the number 10 role from his predecessor and has made it his own.

Getty ImagesIdolises Messi

Wirtz has admitted that he idolises Lionel Messi. The Argentine playmaker was a delight to watch at the recent World Cup, where he was the driving force behind the Albiceleste's long-awaited triumph, as he also cemented his GOAT status even further.

“My first jersey was Messi’s Argentina jersey,” Wirtz revealed in an interview with Sky Sports Germany in April 2022.

“When I was little, he was the best player there was at the time in the world. I watched videos of him, was a fan of his – I wanted to be as good as him.”

It is hardly surprising that Wirtz admires Messi given the striking parallels in their playing styles. Both are technically outstanding left-footers who can play anywhere across the front line or as attacking midfielders. Their vision, dribbling, and skill on both feet make them a nightmare for opponents.

The similarities are so apparent that Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso, who had first-hand experience of facing Messi during his time at Madrid, has compared Wirtz's brilliant movement to Messi.