It’s hard to believe that the 2026 World Cup will be Jonathan Tah’s first World Cup. The 30-year-old is having the best season of his career and has extensive experience with over 300 Bundesliga appearances. However, his path to the top has not been straightforward, and the journey is one he still appreciates today.
“The World Cup is something special and I’m very excited to get first place in it,” Tah said before Germany’s opener. “I felt how big this tournament is and I’m very grateful to be here. It means a lot. I talked to my family and friends and they noticed that the special atmosphere is missing somewhat, so I hope the German fans will bring their flags soon, and we can definitely help that by playing well.”
Tah is definitely doing that. He is one of the most reliable defenders in Europe, as his first season at Bayern Munich proved. He helped seal a domestic double, and according to Opta, finished the Bundesliga season with the highest pass completion rate (96%), a record for players since data collection began nearly 20 years ago. This statistic may not suggest that he is always the most progressive defender with the ball at his feet, but he is not always the most conservative defender. Against Atalanta in the Champions League this season, he completed 24 long passes into the opponent’s half, a competition record for the campaign. His ability to take a pass from distance is perhaps underrated.
“Jonah [Tah] has taken a huge leap [in development terms] Over the last three, four years,” said Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbach, who is Tah’s central defensive partner for Germany. “He showed his quality in the USA game. He’s very strong in one-on-ones.”
slow and steady wins the race
Domestically, Tah emerged at the age of 17 in Hamburg. After being named Germany’s best under-19 player in 2015, the Hamburg native joined Leverkusen and made his Germany debut under then-national team coach Joachim Löw in early 2016 shortly thereafter. He was a substitute player in the Euro 2016 squad due to injury, but did not play a minute in Germany’s run to the semi-finals. At the time, he seemed headed for greatness, but the consistency that makes him so famous now eluded him in his later years.
As a result, his breakthrough into the Germany team never really came. He made the provisional 2018 squad, but not the final cut. He was not in the squad for the next Euros or the World Cup in Qatar. It was only after helping Leverkusen to a historic domestic, undefeated double that he was one of the first names on the teamsheet for Germany’s home Euros two years ago. However, since then he has hit and maintained strong form. After becoming a mainstay during qualifying, Tah scored his first goal for Germany in March and is entering the tournament as one of the strongest defenders.
connection to african roots
The son of an Ivorian father and German mother, Tah will have to work hard when Germany face Ivory Coast in their second match.
“I’m really looking forward to that game,” Tah said. “I grew up in Germany, but through my father I got to know the culture there. I feel connected to that country. I visited in recent years, saw my grandmother and other family members. For that reason it will be special.”
For a player who often meditates in the morning, it is clear that despite an emotional game his mind remains as calm as his form. This is Tah’s moment, and his teammates know it too.
“They [Bayern Munich] It was an extraordinary season, I have a good left foot, we are in shape and we don’t have to hide from other central defensive partnerships in the world,” Schlotterbach said.
“Jonah [Tah] Gives orders. He is faster than me. He calls on the line. He speaks and coaches and if we do the same as we have in the last few games, we will be on top,” Schlotterbach said.
As Germany’s key defender, the World Cup has been a long time coming for Tah.
Edited by: Chuck Penfold