The Bayern Munich full-back has confirmed he will retire at the end of the season, leaving behind a career littered with club and individual trophies
When Philipp Lahm announced his international retirement after captaining Germany to the 2014 World Cup, plaudits flooded in his direction from every source imaginable, including the German Chancellor.
Angela Merkel praised the full-back for all he had done to bring glory back to the country, annoucing: "Becoming world champion in football is definitely a team effort but the captain has a lot to do with that. I want to take the opportunity to give him my respect for what he has done for the national team.