Benedikt Höwedes: where is Germany's 2014 World Cup hero now?

Benedikt Höwedes retired in 2020 after stints with Schalke 04, Juventus, and Lokomotiv Moscow, and now works as a television analyst and football ambassador. The versatile 2014 World Cup left-back played every knockout minute in Brazil and remains a respected voice on the German national team and Bundesliga. Germany beat Argentina 1-0 in extra time in the final at the Maracanã on July 13, 2014, with Höwedes starting at left back despite being a natural central defender.

Key Takeaways

• Höwedes started every 2014 World Cup match at left back despite being a natural centre-back, playing all knockout-stage minutes and hitting the post in the final.
• He retired in 2020 after spells with Schalke 04, Juventus, and Lokomotiv Moscow, and remains a respected Bundesliga and national-team voice on TV.
• Backup keepers Roman Weidenfeller and Ron-Robert Zieler took very different paths: one as a Dortmund ambassador, the other still playing for FC Köln.
• Germany's 2014 title — its fourth World Cup — still frames how fans measure the current national team.
• The BFW "Where are they now?" series tracks every member of that Brazil squad as nostalgia meets a new World Cup cycle.

Twelve years on from Rio, Germany's 2014 World Cup winners remain a touchstone for fans asking what went right then — and what has changed since. Benedikt Höwedes is a perfect entry point: a quiet, versatile defender who never sought headlines yet started every game in Brazil. For more stories tracing icons from peak moments to the present, browse our Nostalgia: Then & Now archive.

What role did Benedikt Höwedes play in Germany's 2014 World Cup win?

Versatility was one of Germany's greatest strengths during its run to the 2014 World Cup title, and few players embodied that quality better than Benedikt Höwedes. Naturally a central defender, Höwedes accepted the challenge of playing left back throughout the tournament without complaint. His consistency and defensive reliability helped provide the balance Germany needed to attack freely while remaining difficult to break down.

Höwedes started every match at left back despite spending much of his club career in central defense. His disciplined defending allowed Germany's more attack-minded players to flourish, and he quietly became one of the tournament's most dependable performers. While he did not receive the same headlines as Manuel Neuer or Toni Kroos, Höwedes played every minute of the knockout stage and even struck the post with a header in the World Cup final against Argentina.

That final image — Germany lifting the trophy after a 1-0 extra-time win over Argentina — capped a campaign built on squad depth and tactical flexibility. Höwedes was not the star, but he was essential. Joachim Löw could rotate and adapt because players like him accepted unfamiliar roles and delivered without fuss.

Where is Benedikt Höwedes now after retirement?

Höwedes retired in 2020 following a career that included successful spells with Schalke 04, Juventus, and Lokomotiv Moscow. Since then, he has stayed involved in football as a television analyst and commentator while also taking on ambassadorial roles within the sport. He remains a respected voice in German football and frequently shares insight on the national team and Bundesliga.

That post-playing path mirrors a broader trend among 2014 winners who have moved into media and representation rather than the dugout. Höwedes does not chase spotlight moments; instead, he offers the same steady professionalism that defined his Brazil summer. For fans who remember him patrolling the left flank in Rio, hearing him break down modern Germany sides carries extra weight.

His Schalke 04 roots still resonate with supporters who followed his career before the World Cup call-up. Retirement closed the chapter on a club career that peaked domestically and internationally in 2014, but it opened another as one of German football's most credible pundits.

How do other 2014 World Cup winners compare today?

The same "where are they now?" lens applied to Höwedes' former teammates shows how differently careers can unfold after a shared triumph. Roman Weidenfeller, Germany's veteran backup goalkeeper behind Neuer at age 33, never appeared in a match during the tournament but provided leadership and experience valued by Löw in the dressing room.

Since retiring in 2018, Weidenfeller has remained heavily involved with Borussia Dortmund as an international brand ambassador, representing the club at events worldwide and meeting supporters, sponsors, and media. He is also a regular football pundit and commentator in Germany. Unlike many former players who move directly into coaching, Weidenfeller has focused on ambassadorial and media work, making him one of the most visible former members of Germany's 2014 squad.

Ron-Robert Zieler tells a different story. As Germany's third-choice goalkeeper, he trained alongside Neuer and Weidenfeller without stepping onto the field in Brazil, yet still earned a place in German football history. Unlike many of his 2014 teammates, Zieler is still active as a professional player. The experienced goalkeeper returned to Hannover 96, where he served as both a starter and veteran leader in recent seasons. In 2025, Zieler moved to FC Köln, continuing to contribute on the pitch while mentoring younger goalkeepers more than a decade after lifting the World Cup trophy.

Why does Germany's 2014 squad still matter in 2026?

Germany's fourth World Cup title in Brazil remains the benchmark for a national team that has struggled to replicate that blend of depth, discipline, and big-game composure. Players like Höwedes — reliable, tactically intelligent, and ego-free — symbolise what made that squad special. When analysts discuss whether modern Germany can compete at the highest level, the 2014 World Cup reference point is never far away.

Series coverage from outlets such as Bavarian Football Works and Yahoo Sports keeps revisiting each squad member as a new World Cup cycle unfolds. The nostalgia is real, but so is the analytical value: tracking where winners landed reveals which paths lead to lasting influence in the game.

For Höwedes specifically, the answer is clear. He left the pitch in 2020, but he never left football. From left back in the Maracanã to the broadcast booth and ambassadorial work, the 2014 World Cup winner remains part of the conversation — exactly where a steady veteran belongs.