Lothar Matthäus believes Joshua Kimmich has the potential to break his Germany caps record.
Matthäus racked up 150 appearances for West Germany/Germany and Kimmich, 30, will pick up his 100th cap in the Nations League semi-final against Portugal in Munich on Wednesday.
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“I said years ago, if anyone can catch up with me, it’s Joshua. And I stand by that. He’s still young, rarely injured and very ambitious. If he keeps going like this, he can reach 170 international caps,” Matthäus told the Bild newspaper on Tuesday.
The 1990 World Cup winner also wrote in a column for Sky: “I would be happy for him if he eventually breaks my record of 150 appearances.”
Kimmich has mainly operated at right back for Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann despite playing for Bayern Munich in midfield.
Matthäus would like to see him in the centre of the park for Germany again.
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“Kimmich is world-class as a right back and in midfield. I think he’s most effective in the middle, where he dictates the rhythm of the game. As a right back, he’s not as involved in the build-up,” the 64-year-old said.
“But Julian Nagelsmann doesn’t have another player who fits the requirements for the right back position. I don’t see another convincing solution there either.”
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