Manuel Neuer has announced his retirement from the German national football team after a remarkable 15-year career. The 38-year-old goalkeeper highlighted the 2014 World Cup victory as the pinnacle of his career.
Neuer ends his international career
Manuel Neuer has officially announced his retirement from the German national football team. On his Instagram channel, the 38-year-old confirmed, “As of today, my career with the German national team ends.” Neuer, who led Germany to victory in the 2014 World Cup, admitted that the decision was difficult and expressed his gratitude to coaches, teammates, and fans.
Reflecting on his career, Neuer described the 2014 World Cup triumph in Brazil as the highlight. With the retirements of Thomas Müller and Toni Kroos, Neuer was the last remaining World Cup winner from Brazil in the national team. Following a disappointing exit from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Neuer suffered a leg injury and was sidelined for nearly a year. He considered everything achieved since then as a “bonus” and felt that participating in the European Championship in Germany was the perfect end to his career.
Record-setting career with the DFB
Neuer, who made his debut for the national team on June 2, 2009, has played 124 matches, more than any other German goalkeeper. Only Lothar Matthäus (150 matches), Miroslav Klose (137), Thomas Müller (131), and Lukas Podolski (130) have more appearances for Germany. Neuer became the first-choice goalkeeper just before the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and played a crucial role in the 2014 World Cup victory in Brazil. Throughout his career, Neuer featured in eight major tournaments.
Regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers in history, Neuer is known for his exceptional reflexes and his proactive approach to goalkeeping, including his involvement in passing and team play.
