Germany’s next number 9 is slowly turning into a star
Maximilian Beier may not yet be a household name across Europe, but for avid football fans paying close attention to the Bundesliga, the 22-year-old German forward is quickly becoming hard to ignore. In a Borussia Dortmund side filled with big personalities and even bigger potential, Beier is quietly putting together a breakout campaign that hints at something special on the horizon.
With 8 goals and 5 assists this season, Beier has been a consistent attacking threat for Dortmund, often operating from the left wing but showcasing a versatility that allows him to play across the entire front line. Despite his gangly 6-foot frame, Beier is deceptively quick, catching defenders off-guard with surprising bursts of pace and intelligent movement. His technical security and work rate make him a coach’s dream, but it's his knack for goal-scoring that stands out most. He’s registered 6 goal contributions in his last 7 games, making it increasingly difficult for Edin Terzić to leave him out of the starting XI.
Beier's current role off the flank is a byproduct of circumstance—namely the red-hot form of Serhou Guirassy, who has cemented his place as Dortmund's lone striker. But I think Beier’s skillet is more suited for him to become more of a central striker as the years go on.
Interestingly, comparisons have already begun to emerge between Beier and Thomas Müller, particularly in their spatial awareness, clever touches, and ability to ghost into dangerous areas but Beier adds greater agility and speed to that blueprint, potentially carving out a more dynamic version of the classic German forward archetype. And with Müller moving on from Bayern, there’s a void in the national team setup that Beier seems well-suited to fill in the coming years.
His journey from Hoffenheim to Dortmund is classic Bundesliga — a young talent impresses at a smaller club, earns a big move, and then flourishes. It’s a well-worn path. His defensive contributions are also worth noting: he ranks in the top 1% of forwards for tackles and interceptions, underlining his value not just as a goal threat, but as a relentless presser and willing runner off the ball.
Still only 22, Beier is very much a work in progress, but the trajectory is clear. If he continues developing at this pace, it’s not hard to imagine him becoming Germany’s main striker, especially as the national team seeks to redefine its identity post-Müller and amid a new wave of attacking talent. Given his potential it wouldn’t surprise me if Beier turns into a 60-70 million pound forward that we see make a step up to Europe’s elite because he’s already got a lot of things that are now expected of the modern centre-forward
For now, Beier remains somewhat under the radar, but make no mistake: his moment is coming. And when it does, it won’t be a surprise to those who've been watching closely.
