Celebrity and Athlete? Depictions of German Soccer Star Jérôme Boateng in Mass Media.

Starting in the 1970s, West German athletes were not only competing on the field but also off the field for television commercials, advertisement space, newspaper articles, and lucrative endorsement deals. New consumption patterns and changes in television audiences made it possible for athletes like Franz Beckenbauer to achieve celebrity status in Germany. Beckenbauer and his life achievements paved the way for subsequent soccer generations such as 2014 FIFA World Cup winners Lukas Podolski and Jérôme Boateng. These soccer players, who have a Migrationshintergrund, have gained attention in tabloids, social media, music, and fan forums, elevating them to celebrities. Changes in consumer culture, commercialization of soccer, and technological advancement make a compelling case for re-examining the role of media in constructing and perpetuating German soccer celebrities in the 21st century. This article examines the depiction of Jérôme Boateng, the first Afro-German World Cup champion, in Germany’s leading sports media (Das aktuelle Sportstudio, 11 Freunde, and Kicker), and in Michael Horeni’s 2012 biography of Boateng, Die Brüder Boateng. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]