Lukas Podolski: The most beautiful pictures from 40 years
Yummy, Lukas Podolski turns 40 today! Will there be Polish bean soup to celebrate? We'd love it for him.
But first, let's take a closer look: We look back at Poldi's Hollywood career. And right at the start, we provide proof that Podolski's hand has fingers other than just his thumb.
The first official thumbnail photo was taken in 2003. An 18-year-old striker with the number 36 appeared in Cologne's first team and captivated the city within a single second half of the season. (Although word had already spread among the scene that a special youngster would soon be joining Effzeh.)
He scored ten goals in his first 19 Bundesliga games alone. By comparison, that's nine more goals than Dennis Diekmeier scored in his first 264 Bundesliga games.
Here he reads everything again in detail: Yes, he is suddenly the new darling of an entire football nation!
But even a young god sometimes has calf problems. Much more important, though, is the question: What was Poldi's Snake record on his Nokia 3210? And did our texts only fail to reach him because his SMS memory was full?
Congratulations, Lukas: You made it to the recall!
Here are more portrait photos of Podolski, the meaning of which isn't immediately clear to us, but which we don't want to miss.
Here, for example, Podolski got a little confused during the "I pretend my banana is a telephone" sketch. It can happen.
Here, Podolski is juggling a soccer ball on a restaurant table. But as the saying goes in the 11FREUNDE family: You eat what's on the table!
Here Poldi & Schweini swap jerseys.
Both of them traveled to the European Championships in Portugal at the last minute in the summer of 2004. However, they couldn't prevent their elimination in the group stage. Nevertheless, it would remain the only real tournament disappointment of their lives.
The hype surrounding the prince is creating next-level fan merchandise. But if the cover is printed on the back, what's on the chest?
Bet that one day I'll develop my own fashion brand, a kebab chain, and an Aldi collection?
In 2004/2005, Podolski blasted everyone to pieces in the second division. In his away game against Cottbus alone, he scored four goals, despite the virtually invincible Tomislav Piplica being in goal.
Yes, that's Podolski's left foot. Yes, when you're blazing balls around at 280 km/h, something's bound to burst every now and then. Yes, we'd still kiss that foot.
The problem with Poldi's thumb: Even with a helmet on, you can see him in speed camera photos.
Back to sports. At the 2006 World Cup, Podolski scored three goals, finished third with Germany, and was named the tournament's best young player. He then moved to FC Bayern. A good summer.
Then came the first setback in his career. During his three years with the record champions, he remained mostly a backup. But Podolski wouldn't be Podolski if he couldn't simply smile away those frustrating years.
So back home. In 2009, the prince moved back to Cologne.
Summit meeting at the carnival. Which two students are in the Calmund costume?
During his second spell at Cologne, Podolski matured into a leading player. In 2011/2012, he scored 18 goals and provided seven assists. It was the best season of his career.
He then listened to offers from abroad. In the end, Arsenal got the nod. Speaking of nods: What German international could ever slap his own national team captain in front of live TV cameras during a game without anyone taking offense?
Things initially went brilliantly for the striker at Arsenal. People loved his straightforward style of play, they loved his left-footed shot.
Podolski – Advance9 through technology!
Here, Podolski is driving an English bus. But don't worry: he can drive on the left!
At some point, however, Arsene Wenger eliminated Podolski. He was first loaned to Inter Milan, then, in the summer of 2015, moved to Turkey. At Galatasaray, he collected 52 points in 75 games. That's 26 points more than Dennis Diekmeier collected in 264 Bundesliga games.
Oh, and of course, in the meantime, Podolski had also become a World Champion. In 2014, he celebrated with his friend Schweini in Rio. However, his best sporting days with the national team were already behind him.
In 2008, he became runner-up at the European Championship as a regular starter, and in 2010, he finished third at the World Cup for the second time as a regular starter. In total, Podolski has played 31 games at major tournaments, scoring twelve goals and providing five assists.
He made one last major appearance in 2017, in his farewell match against England. He won the match with a shot into the top corner. It was his 49th international goal in 130 appearances.
Want to bet Celine Dion is currently talking about how Poldi simply spat the ball into the top corner from 30 meters in his last international match? And how a daring 11FREUNDE editor predicted exactly that in the last paragraph of this article in the hours before the match?
In 2017, he's off to the Far East, and upon his arrival in Kobe, Podolski is celebrated like a pop star. Or rather, "For shizzle my Vissel!" In Japan, Podolski wins the cup – and, in the autumn of his career, meets one of the greats of world football...
...Thorsten Fink will be his coach in 2019!
After that, he returns to Turkey, where he's still under contract with Antalyaspor. And, unless some strange horror virus paralyzes the entire world, he still regularly fires the ball into the top corner with his left foot. That's another reason why we're looking forward to another 40 years with Podolski. And congratulations.
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