Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has announced his retirement from international duty after earning 124 caps since 2009. The 38-year-old Bayern Munich player, who was pivotal in Germany’s 2014 World Cup victory and won the Golden Glove award, shared the news on Instagram.
“Today marks the end of my career in the German national football team,” Neuer wrote. “Anyone who knows me knows that I didn’t take this decision lightly. I feel very well physically, and of course, the 2026 World Cup would have appealed to me. Yet, I have decided that now is the right time to end my chapter with the national team.”
The German Football Association (DFB) praised Neuer as one of the greatest goalkeepers in history, saying in a statement, “All words seem too small. But they come from the heart: Thank you, Manu. For your unique, outstanding successes, and especially for your camaraderie, dedication, and inspiration to fellow players and fans around the world.”
Neuer’s retirement follows the recent international retirement of Germany midfielder Ilkay Gundogan. Neuer’s club, Bayern Munich, will start their league campaign against Wolfsburg on Sunday.
