Of course, success is a relative term. It can be something completely different from winning the German championship eight times or making millions.

After the 2006 World Cup, I knew that you don't always need success, success, success on the pitch.

I want to successfully make the transition from a life in professional sports to another life, without running into major upheavals.

I have a feeling we are going to be world champions, I can't really explain why. Brazil are probably the best team in the world in terms of individual players. But the team with the most gifted players do not always win.

I have always seen myself as an athlete. Of course, I made the mistake of unintentionally opening the door to my private life by just a crack. I wouldn't do the same thing again. It has to be accepted that my private life is private, and if that isn't the case, I have to do something about it.

I was so obsessed with football that you could say I was taking the goal home with me at night. And then one day the system fell apart.

It's part of my game to occasionally send a message, one that may be unpopular to the outside world, but can be important for the team.