Kimmich wins 100th cap

The Bayern man is just the 14th player to do so for Germany, and the very first in that group who is yet to win a FIFA World Cup. While he has some way to go to catch Neuer (124 caps) and Müller (131) - fifth and third respectively in the all-time list - Kimmich closes in on the legendary Franz Beckenbauer (103) and be just five off entering the top-10, with Jürgen Kohler on 105. 

“These 100 international matches show that I’ve consistently performed at a high level over the past nine years - and that I’ve managed to stay healthy and fit throughout,” said Kimmich in trademark matter-of-fact fashion.

Watch: Joshua Kimmich - a legend in the making

If reaching a century of international caps is a rarity, even simply staying "healthy and fit" was anything but a given for Kimmich early in his career when the prospects of him making it to the Bundesliga looked worryingly slim.

“At 18, it wasn’t even about being good enough for the Bundesliga. Back then, it was being considered at VfB (Stuttgart) if I could even make it in the 3. Liga," said Kimmich. “When I compare my level of development back then with that of the 17-year-olds training with us today, I have to honestly say I was nowhere near being ready to play in the Bundesliga.”

While a youngster at Stuttgart, a pelvic problem also put his career in peril before his 2013 switch to RB Leipzig that would prove to be the catalyst for the journey that has taken Kimmich to 22 major trophies.

"For the first time, I truly experienced what it means to play for a professional team. It was all about promotion, points and money; everyone wanted to play and collect the bonus. That’s quite different compared to the amateur team," Kimmich said of his two years at Leipzig, who were in Bundesliga 2 at the time. “I needed the two years of transition in Leipzig for my body to adjust to adult football. I developed enormously physically there and prepared well for what came next.”

The 2015 move to Bayern and his senior Germany debut in a pre-EURO 2016 friendly against Slovakia was what came immediately next, and eventually led to him being named captain of his country by Julian Nagelsmann in February 2024 after Ilkay Gündogan announced his international retirement.

"Josh was one of the three captains at the European Championship, so it's logical that if the others aren't there, he's the [leading] candidate," the Germany coach said, naming Antonio Rüdiger and Kai Havertz as alternate skippers. "Kimmich is someone who always goes full throttle, sometimes too much. Someone who always wants to win.”

Kimmich's thirst for victory is etched into his every move on a football pitch, but he has only ever picked up 11 yellow cards for his country and never been sent off, setting an example for his teammates to follow.

"Jo is a great captain. He was already a leader in the past," said goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, who played in the October 2019 friendly against Argentina in which Kimmich captained his country for the first time. "He's given so much for German football. And you see it in him, the way he lives and breathes football." As Nagelsmann put it, "Joshua brings a unique energy to the squad. His journey to 100 caps is a testament to his work ethic and adaptability." 

The current Germany coach also hinted at a reason why Kimmich has been so useful to himself and his predecessors thanks to his ability to play right-back, centre-back and now in midfield while always producing carbon-copy top-grade performances.

While the debate rages over where his best position is, Kimmich himself simply ploughs on. Having recently signed a contract extension with Bayern through to 2029 and - potentially - the end of his playing career, Kimmich now has another milestone in mind: Lothar Matthäus's national record of 150 caps.

"A lot of things have to go well to beat 150. You have to always be healthy. You always have to be at a high level. You need a coach that supports you and we have to go further in tournaments than in the past," said Kimmich, who has reached a EURO semi-final but never gone beyond the group stage at a World Cup. "But (Matthäus) went into his last international appearance aged 39. That's a nice number."