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The 40-year-old goalkeeper confirmed that the match against Paraguay at the World Cup was his last appearance for the national team, while captain Joshua Kimmich ruled out the possibility of a withdrawal...
According to a report by German media outlet Der Spiegel, Manuel Neuer has confirmed the end of his career with the German national team, following the elimination by Paraguay in the round of 16 of the World Cup.
Asked by ARD if this was his last match in the Germany shirt, the goalkeeper replied briefly: "Yes."
Neuer had initially announced his retirement from the national team after the 2024 European Championship in Germany. However, he returned for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, once again taking the starting spot, while Oliver Baumann, the goalkeeper who had been the main choice during the qualifiers, returned to the reserve role.
At the age of 40, Neuer ends his career with 128 caps for the national team. The loss to Paraguay, which was decided on penalties (3:4), was his last appearance in the German shirt.
In the ranking of footballers with the most appearances for the German national team, the 2014 world champion ranks fifth, behind Lothar Matthäus (150 matches), Miroslav Klose (137), Thomas Müller (131) and Lukas Podolski (130).
It remains to be seen which other players will decide to call time on their international careers before the 2028 European Championship, which will be held in Great Britain and Ireland. Neuer was the oldest player in the squad, while captain Joshua Kimmich is one of the few over 30.
Kimmich, 31, ruled out retiring from the national team. "I will always have the energy for a new challenge. What I will never do is give up," he said.
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