That bet paid off quickly. A first-team debut in May 2020. Youngest goalscorer in Bundesliga history weeks later. And eventually, under Xabi Alonso, the creative heart of a Leverkusen side that defied ...

Instead, Leverkusen showed their intent to continue to rival Bayern Munich for the Bundesliga title, keeping the likes of Florian Wirtz, Jermaine Frimpong, Victor Boniface, and Piero Hincapié ...

Footballers of Wirtz's age group often name Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as their childhood idols. The legendary pair ...