German football hopeful Max Kruse (14 caps) has seen his career take a hit due to a series of peculiar antics. Max Kruse is a German international football player whose career has had its fair share of twists and turns. Having played for Werder Bremen, SC Freiburg, VfL Wolfsburg, and even Fenerbahçe, the striker with 14 caps has been through several clubs, but in Germany, he is best known for his escapades.
It’s a mix of excesses that led Max Kruse’s career astray. German media have highlighted his fondness for poker, parties, and even an “obsession” with Nutella, as reported by Bild.
Poker, Nutella, and reality TV
Similar to Neymar, the German striker is a poker player and takes part in numerous tournaments. In October 2015, he made headlines by forgetting a winnings worth 75,000 euros in the back of a taxi. Despite filing a report, nothing came of it. A few months later, Max Kruse was fined 25,000 euros by his Wolfsburg club for participating in a poker tournament the day after a match where he scored a hat-trick.
Episodes combined with excessive junk food consumption and an affinity for Nutella have tarnished his image. In the national team, he was disciplined and left out due to a lack of discipline.
Towards the end of his career, he proposed on live television to Raymond Domenech-style and even took part in a reality show.
His teammates put Viagra in his drink
In 2026, on his podcast “Flatterball,” which the 37-year-old hosts with ex-pro Martin Harnik, Max Kruse recounted how his BSV Al-Dersimspor teammates allegedly put Viagra in his drink after returning from a training camp in Egypt.
“I didn’t find it that serious, it was funny to me. But my wife didn’t find it funny. She said it was dangerous, and one could die from a Viagra overdose.”
