He spent the majority of his playing career for Schalke 04, which he captained for six seasons, and represented the Germany national football team from 2011 to 2017.

At international level, Höwedes won the World Cup with Germany in 2014,[3] and was one of only three players to play every single minute of the tournament.

In September 2007, the German Football Association honoured Höwedes with the Fritz Walter Medal as the best player of his age-group for the 2006–07 season.

[15] On 7 October 2018, he scored his first goal for Lokomotiv late in a game against PFC CSKA Moscow, giving his team a 1–0 victory.

[25] After making three appearances during the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification, Höwedes was named in Germany's squad for the tournament finals.

[26] He was named in the starting line-up at left back against Portugal in the team's opening match, making his tournament debut.

In the 2014 World Cup final, Höwedes went close to opening the scoring by hitting the goalpost with a header after a corner kick in the last seconds of the first half.

[28] Höwedes was also one of three German players who played every minute of all seven World Cup games, alongside goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and captain Philipp Lahm.

[30] In August 2021, it was announced that Höwedes will begin a trainee program containing the tasks of the Germany national football team's managerial position accompanying his UEFA master's degree.

[34] Höwedes's height and high-jumping ability also made him an aerial threat, and saw him both score and set-up goals with his head.