Berlin, August 21, 2024, The Europe Today: Manuel Neuer, Germany’s first-choice goalkeeper for over a decade, announced his retirement from international football on Wednesday. The 38-year-old Bayern Munich star, who made 124 appearances for Germany and was a pivotal figure in their 2014 World Cup victory in Brazil, shared his decision in an Instagram post.
Neuer revealed that while he had considered staying on for the 2026 World Cup in North America, he ultimately decided that “now is the right time to take this step.” His decision follows Germany’s recent exit from the European Championships, where they were knocked out by Spain in the quarterfinals.
Reflecting on his career, Neuer expressed pride and gratitude, particularly for the 2014 World Cup triumph. “When I look back today, I feel proud and grateful! Not least because we were able to fulfill our big dream on 13 July 2014, and become world champions together in Brazil,” he wrote. Neuer also highlighted the honor of captaining the national team for seven years until an injury sidelined him last year.
Neuer’s retirement aligns with Germany’s generational shift under coach Julian Nagelsmann, who aims to rejuvenate the squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Neuer is the last member of the 2014 World Cup-winning team to retire from international play, following the departures of Thomas Müller and Toni Kroos. Ilkay Gündogan, who captained Germany during this summer’s Euros, also recently announced his retirement from international football.
With Neuer’s departure, Barcelona’s Marc-André ter Stegen is expected to become Germany’s first-choice goalkeeper as the team looks ahead to the future.
