Florian Richard Wirtz (born 3 May 2003) is a German professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen and the Germany national team. A generational German talent, Wirtz recovered from a serious ACL injury in 2022 to lead Bayer Leverkusen to a historic unbeaten Bundesliga title in the 2023-24 season under Xabi Alonso. He was named the Bundesliga Player of the Season for his efforts. By early 2026, Wirtz was the most sought-after playmaker in Europe, with intense transfer battles between Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich. His ability to find space, his dribbling, and his vision make him the creative heartbeat of the German national team (Die Mannschaft) alongside Jamal Musiala.