World Cup winner heaps praise on ‘exceptional’ Liverpool star | OneFootball

Liverpool Star Praised by World Cup Legend

Philip Lahm knows what elite football looks like. He has lived it, captained it and won it. So when he singles out Florian Wirtz as Germany’s best player, Liverpool supporters should probably listen, even if the evidence at Anfield has so far been mixed.

Speaking on his official TikTok account, Lahm was asked to name Germany’s leading player. He did not choose Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz or another more established international name. Instead, he picked Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz.

Lahm said: “Florian Wirtz. He has taken the step from the Bundesliga to the Premier League with Liverpool.

“He’s had a difficult season, but I think his abilities are exceptional. I’m excited to watch him, and I hope he has a successful World Cup.”

That is a significant endorsement, especially because Wirtz enters the 2026 World Cup needing more than just a decent tournament. He needs a reset.

Photo: IMAGO

Wirtz Needs World Cup Platform

Liverpool’s move for Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen was always going to come with expectation, pressure and scrutiny. His first Premier League season brought five goals and four assists, numbers that did not quite match the hype or the fee.

Yet context matters. Liverpool’s 2025/26 campaign unravelled badly after Arne Slot’s title winning first year, and a team lacking rhythm rarely creates the ideal environment for a creative player trying to adapt.

Wirtz was often used from the left, where his influence looked diluted. For Germany, he has generally carried more authority, recording 11 goals and 11 assists in 41 caps before this World Cup. That record tells us something important. The talent has not vanished. The question is how best to unlock it.

Germany Role Could Help Liverpool

Germany face Curacao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador in Group E, and Wirtz should have the stage to remind people why Liverpool invested so heavily in him.

For Andoni Iraola, watching from afar, this tournament could be hugely useful. Wirtz’s movement, decision making and final third combinations may offer clues about where he fits best in Liverpool’s next tactical structure.

If Germany use him centrally, or allow him to drift inside from the left with freedom, Liverpool may find evidence that last season’s struggles were as much about usage as form.

Liverpool Must See Bigger Picture

Some fans will understandably question Lahm’s verdict. Calling Wirtz Germany’s best player ahead of Musiala is bold. But football judgment should not be reduced to one difficult domestic campaign.

Wirtz remains technically outstanding, clever between the lines and capable of changing tempo in possession. Those traits are rare. Liverpool need more players who can solve games, not simply run through them.

Lahm’s comments will not erase the doubts, but they do reframe the debate. Wirtz is not a failed signing. He is a gifted player coming off a difficult year, entering a tournament that could restore confidence, clarity and momentum.

For Liverpool, Philip Lahm’s praise should be viewed less as hype and more as a reminder. Florian Wirtz still has the profile, pedigree and intelligence to become central to the club’s next phase.