The widely expected move was announced in a statement issued by the German football association (DFB) on Friday. Philipp Lahm (pictured above, right) was nominated for the role by DFB President Reinhard Grindel (above, center) and it was approved at an extraordinary DFB assembly in Frankfurt.

"Philipp Lahm is an outstanding sportsman, an outstanding team player and also a socially committed human being," Grindel said. He also noted that the honor was also in recognition of "his great achievement as captain of our 2014 World Cup-winning national team."

Lahm becomes the sixth player to receive the honor, after Fritz Walter, Uwe Seeler, Franz Beckenbauer, Lothar Matthäus and Jürgen Klinsmann.

"It is a huge honor to now be in the company of players, for each of whom my respect is beyond all measure and whose achievements I admire," Lahm said. "As captain, I always regarded myself as a representative of the team, so I accept this award in the name of all of my teammates, without whom I would not be here."

Lahm retired as a player at the end of last season, and had ended his international career shortly after Germany won the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The DFB also announced on Friday that it had named the former Germany and Bayern skipper as an ambassador for its bid to host the 2024 European championship.

"We are pleased and proud that Philipp Lahm will continue to be take an active role on behalf of the DFB and football in Germany," Grindel said. "He is to be the front man for the German bid."