Peter Meyer, the record goalscorer for Fortuna Düsseldorf who later played for Borussia Mönchengladbach, died Feb. 11, 2026. He was 85.
Meyer began his career with Fortuna Düsseldorf in 1960, where he became the most prolific scorer in the club's history. Over seven seasons, he scored 119 goals in 174 league appearances. In 1966, he scored twice in a 5-1 victory against Kickers Offenbach, a result that secured the club’s first promotion to the Bundesliga. During the subsequent top-flight season, he scored eight goals in 25 appearances before the team was relegated.
The striker joined Borussia Mönchengladbach in 1967 and earned a call-up to the West German national team that same year. He made his sole international appearance in a UEFA Euro 1968 qualifier against Albania. The match, which ended in a 0-0 draw, prevented West Germany from qualifying for the tournament and became known in German football history as the "Disgrace of Tirana."
A severe injury curtailed his professional career shortly after his international debut. In January 1968, Meyer suffered a broken tibia and fibula during a training match. He never fully recovered from the fracture, which significantly limited his playing time for the remainder of his career.