Kimmich earns his 100th Germany cap as midfield linchpin

Breaking into a powerhouse like the German national team is no easy task, but Kimmich didn't just break in—he became a pillar. On Wednesday, he reached 100 appearances with the Mannschaft.

That milestone, combined with the recent retirements of Toni Kroos, Thomas Muller and Manuel Neuer, makes him the most capped active player in the Germany squad.

The all-time list is led by Miroslav Klose with 137. Kimmich's next target is Per Mertesacker on 104, with Philipp Lahm (113) and Kroos (114) a bit further ahead.

Kimmich has been central to Germany's plans since his debut on 29 May 2016. Of his previous 99 matches, he started 96—the most of any player in that span. He has also contributed eight goals and 24 assists, making him a clear leader in both roles during that period.

The Bayern man has featured in three European Championships, two World Cups, all three editions of the Nations League so far, and the 2017 Confederations Cup, which Germany won. His record stands at 54 wins, 24 draws and 21 defeats, with a win percentage of 54.55%.

Kimmich has become the team's engine. With Kroos stepping aside, he now runs the show. Since 2016, he has made the most key passes (84), completed the most successful passes (6,848) and leads in accurate forward passes (979). Many of those have ended in shots on goal.

Defensively, his numbers are just as strong. Since his debut, he has led the team in ball recoveries (816), with 363 of those coming in the opposition half. He also tops the charts in duels won, with a total of 777.

Kimmich remains a crucial figure for Germany and now sets his sights on the Nations League final, hoping to add another trophy to his international career. In the quarter-final tie against Italy, he was decisive, registering four assists and a goal across the two legs.