It’s not every day a 6-foot-6 striker gets compared to Lionel Messi. But that’s exactly what’s happening in Germany, where VfB Stuttgart’s Nick Woltemade is reshaping what we expect from a forward his size. The Bundesliga isn’t short on target men, but few can glide between defenders, pick a lock with a feathery touch, and lead the press like a technician trained in La Masia. Woltemade, or “Woltemessi” as he’d dubbed himself, is doing all that, just with 11 inches on the Argentine.
And now Bayern Munich want him.
According to Sky Germany, the Bundesliga champions have reached a verbal agreement with the 23-year-old striker, who just finished a breakout season with Stuttgart and lit up the U21 Euros with Germany. The transfer isn’t finalized, but Bayern are said to be preparing a formal offer in the $64–86 million range. Stuttgart, meanwhile, are digging in. They insist Woltemade is central to their plans and want to extend his deal beyond 2028.
Woltemade’s blend of size and silk is rare enough that teammates have taken to calling him a Messi-type. Stuttgart captain Atakan Karazor joked to ran.de that “Woltemade has Messi’s technique.” It might be a stretch, but there is a stylistic resemblance. After all, German fans call him “Two‑Metre Messi.” He doesn’t just crash the box or act as a backboard for long balls. He creates. He dribbles in tight spaces. He plays one-twos, slips passes between center backs, and still towers over everyone when it matters most.
That unique package was on full display in the 2024–25 season, after a developmental loan in the 3. Liga, Woltemade joined Stuttgart on a free from Werder Bremen. He quickly became their central striker and scored 17 goals across all competitions, including the opener in the DFB-Pokal final. Stuttgart lifted the trophy for the first time in nearly two decades. Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann noticed too, handing him a senior debut in the Nations League in June.
But it was the U21 Euros this summer where Woltemade truly blew up. He scored six goals in five matches, including a hat trick against Slovenia and a goal in every knockout game. By the time Germany reached the final, fans and scouts had seen enough.
Woltemade’s hat-trick against Slovenia turned heads across Europe, a statement performance that erased any lingering doubts about his potential at the top level.
Woltemade, for his part, isn’t getting caught up in the hype. “Honestly, I just want to rest,” he said after Germany’s semi-final win. “It’s been a tough schedule and I’ve played a lot of minutes.”
There’s a humility in that, and it matches the profile of a player who spent years waiting for his moment. Despite debuting for Werder at 17, he rarely started and was nearly forgotten before a loan to SV Elversberg rejuvenated him. He scored 10 goals in Germany’s third division and helped the club win promotion. It’s a journey that’s endeared him to fans. In Stuttgart, they love his low-key interviews as much as his footwork. During cup final week, he told reporters: “This week is Cup week – and we’re all dreaming of the big win. But I stay calm and hope everyone else does too.”
Whether that calm holds if Bayern make a record bid remains to be seen. The club see him as a long-term successor to Harry Kane, and Woltemade is reportedly intrigued by the opportunity. But Stuttgart aren’t letting him go easily. No release clause means any deal will need to be negotiated hard.
And rightly so. Players this tall aren’t supposed to move like this. But Nick Woltemade doesn’t seem to care what he’s supposed to be. He’s just playing his game, somewhere between a shadow striker and a skyscraper.
