Mario Gotze's metabolic disorder could change the Borussia Dortmund star's entire career

Published Feb. 28, 2017 7:09 p.m. ET

Aaron West

Mario Gotze was the hero of Germany's 2014 World Cup win. Then just 22 years old, he came off the bench in the 88th minute to be Germany's savior, with his coach telling him "show the world you are better than Messi and can decide the World Cup" as he stepped onto the pitch. Gotze scored the only goal of the match in the 113th minute, winning the World Cup for his country, and instantly becoming the world's most pre-eminent young talent.

Now, Gotze's found himself in a struggle for playing time, a struggle for fitness, and perhaps, a struggle for his career as a soccer player.

Following the success of 2014, Gotze's career took a distinct downturn. He couldn't find fitness and form at Bayern Munich, and returned to Borussia Dortmund last summer following a disappointing period at Germany's biggest club. It hasn't been any better for the hometown boy back in the Westfalenstadion. He's been unable to stay healthy or find any sort of continuity as he's suffered from the same injury problems, inability to find form, and the increasing scrutiny that inevitably comes when a highly paid athlete isn't playing often, or even playing well.

Since 2011, Gotze's missed a total of 39 games because of 10 different muscle injuries, with his critics increasingly pointing to a lack of professionalism and work ethic as the issue. He's made just 16 appearances in all competitions this season, with a paltry two goals and two assists to his name. A number of bright young talents have emerged ahead of him at Dortmund, and Gotze has fallen further and further behind in the pecking order.

Gotze himself lashed out in November, calling criticism of his form "absolute nonsense."

"Should I now just go back to being an 18-year-old?" he said. "I now have almost 60 international caps, six years of success and five championship titles. These are facts. Every footballer develops and the old Mario Götze is no more."

Germany and Bayern Munich legend Lothar Matthaus expressed his censure of Gotze just last week. The former World Cup winner told him he should go to China because there wasn't a place for him in Germany with his salary demands, and "top clubs from abroad aren't that interested anymore."

Gotze went from being Germany's golden boy to a pariah, all in the space of just three years.

On Monday, Dortmund revealed that Gotze has been diagnosed with an apparent "metabolic disorder," the details of which his club have been unwilling to discuss.

"This is not going to be a short-term thing," Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke told Bild.

It's a hammer blow for Dortmund and for Gotze.

A metabolic disorder can span a wide range of possible conditions, but it's widely believed that the illness is at the root of whatever issues Gotze has suffered from in recent years. The crafty midfielder is reportedly being treated by specialists rather than the Dortmund in-house staff, but has not been hospitalized.

The diagnosis not only puts Gotze's future as a soccer player in doubt, it calls into question all the criticism he's suffered from in recent years.

"It's a big blow," said his most recent critic, Matthaus, after hearing of the diagnosis. "The good thing is that now they have identified the cause, they can treat him. Obviously you have to judge his recent performances differently, knowing this."

Gotze's problems not only have to be seen in a new light, they could just be serious enough to affect his future as a professional athlete. Gotze's place was already in question at Dortmund, and now he's in real danger of losing it altogether.

While we can't speculate about Gotze and his condition, Dortmund's meritocracy means more and more players are earning a chance to prove their worth ahead of him every single day he's unable to play. He was already facing a battle for minutes before his current layoff, and now, whenever he returns, he'll be at the very back of the pecking order. With Christian Pulisic and Ousmane Dembele already young players joining an established crop that includes Marco Reus, Shinji Kagawa and Andre Schurrle, there's a crush of attacking players for a limited number of spots to begin with.

Depending on the severity of his condition, Gotze could be out through the end of the season or longer, leaving Dortmund with a decision to make. Do they continue on with their young prodigy, hoping that he'll find the right treatment and return stronger, or do they continue to hand chances to -- or maybe even sign -- players who may end up replacing him? Business sense says the latter, which spells even more worry for the man in question in addition to his immediate medical issues.

Gotze's not just facing a long spell on the sidelines. He's facing a threat to his place at Borussia Dortmund, and maybe even his very career.