Overview

• Bastian Schweinsteiger, Guido Buchwald, Horst Hrubesch, Otto Rehhagel, Jupp Heynckes and the late Bert Trautmann were formally enshrined at a gala in the Deutsches Fußballmuseum.
• Philipp Lahm delivered the tribute for Schweinsteiger, who wiped away tears during his acceptance, as around 300 guests attended the museum ceremony moderated by Esther Sedlaczek.
• Heynckes was honored in absentia due to health reasons, with Uli Hoeneß praising him in a video message, while Hansi Müller and others served as laudators for fellow inductees.
• Trautmann was inducted posthumously, with DFB president Bernd Neuendorf calling his journey a story of reconciliation as his son accepted the honor on his behalf.
• A jury composed largely of sports journalists selects inductees under criteria including a five‑year retirement threshold, and the Hall of Fame now counts 53 members, according to event coverage; Lahm and Schweinsteiger also used the occasion to voice support for Florian Wirtz’s adaptation at Liverpool.