Manuel Neuer, a goalkeeper who led Germany to World Cup glory in 2014, has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 38.
The Bayern Munich star, who earned 124 caps for Germany and captained the team in 61 matches, revealed his decision on Wednesday.
Neuer’s final appearance for Germany came during the quarter-final loss to Spain at Euro 2024, where Spain went on to win the tournament. Reflecting on his career, Neuer shared on social media that while he was tempted to continue playing until the 2026 World Cup, he believes “now is the right time to take this step.”
Widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of his generation, Neuer was instrumental in Germany’s 2014 World Cup triumph in Brazil, where he was named the tournament’s best goalkeeper. His innovative playing style, often referred to as the “sweeper-keeper,” saw him frequently leave his penalty area to intercept passes and initiate attacks, a skill set more commonly associated with outfield players.
Neuer said his decision followed discussions with his family and a detailed conversation with Germany’s head coach, Julian Nagelsmann, earlier on Wednesday. He expressed his intention to focus entirely on his club career with Bayern Munich, where he has already won two Champions League titles and 11 Bundesliga championships.
Neuer also noted that this season’s Champions League final will be held at Munich’s Allianz Arena, signaling his continued commitment to achieving success with his club.
