It has been a sorrowful year for German football, as just 40 days after the death of the legendary Franz Beckenbauer, the German Football Association announced on Tuesday the passing of another German football icon and World Cup champion, Andreas Brehme.
Andreas Brehme, the former German national team star who scored the decisive penalty kick in the 1990 World Cup final against Argentina, leading Germany to its third title in the tournament, has died at the age of 63.
Brehme became a legend in German football when his successful penalty kick secured a 1-0 victory over Diego Maradona’s Argentina in the World Cup final held in Rome, a moment that brought tears to Argentina and its legendary captain Maradona.
Brehme had an illustrious career playing for Kaiserslautern, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, and other clubs before retiring in 1998. He earned 86 caps for the West German national team, scoring 8 goals, including the memorable goal that everyone remembers.
Brehme is considered one of the finest left-backs in world football, known for his ability to play equally well with both feet.