World Cup star Leon Goretzka's extreme body transformation in 2020 was one of the big talking points of the Covid-19-hit season once football returned. The Bundesliga was the first major European league to restart in May 2020 after the pandemic led to all football being halted. But Bayern Munich midfielder Goretzka, then 25, looked barely recognisable when play resumed as he went from having a slender and lanky six-foot-two frame to being an all-round tank.
Viral Images of Goretzka's Hulk-Like Physique
His physique by May was such that his biceps, triceps and pectoral muscles were visibly bursting out of his Bayern jersey - images that quickly went viral on social media. It left fans scratching their heads as to how he managed to achieve his Hulk-like figure in such a short time frame. During one Champions League victory over Lokomotiv Moscow in October 2020, Goretzka tore his sleeve while he celebrated scoring the opener after 13 minutes. Many flocked to Twitter to speculate that his jersey had ripped because it could no longer contain his overly large muscles.
Impact on Performance and Career Trajectory
His upgraded physique served him well a month earlier as he played a key role in Bayern completing an unprecedented sextuple in September 2020. However, his career since then has not reached the same heights, with his form declining and his performances for club and country being scrutinised. Goretzka left Bayern on June 30 of this year upon the expiry of his contract after eight years in Bavaria. The 31-year-old had fallen down the pecking order under Vincent Kompany and was mainly a substitute across domestic and European cup competitions.
World Cup 2026 Disappointment
Despite not being a first-choice midfielder at his club, he was surprisingly selected by Julian Nagelsmann for this summer's World Cup. Unfortunately for Goretzka, his third World Cup tournament also ended in disappointment and frustration. He played just 22 minutes across the two opening games against Curacao and Ivory Coast, which Germany won. He was an unused substitute in the group stage defeat to Ecuador and made his only start at the tournament against Paraguay, who knocked Germany out on penalties in the round of 32. Goretzka is currently a free agent with no destination confirmed yet.
