Manuel Neuer Retires from Germany's National Team, Ends Iconic 15-Year International Career

Germany's legendary goalkeeper Manuel Neuer announced his retirement from the national team on Wednesday after a remarkable 15-year career spanning 124 international appearances.

While stepping away from international duty, Neuer will continue his club career with Bayern Munich.

The 38-year-old goalkeeper made his debut for Germany in 2009 and quickly became a cornerstone of the team, playing a pivotal role in Germany's 2014 World Cup victory.

𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗿𝗮.@esmuellert_ 🖤❤️💛 @Manuel_Neuer#MiaSanMia pic.twitter.com/BlkrN05Q9s

— FC Bayern München (@FCBayern) August 21, 2024

His final appearance for the national team came during a 2-1 extra-time loss to Spain in the Euro 2024 quarterfinals, a tournament Germany hosted.

Neuer admitted he was "tempted" by the prospect of continuing his international career through the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the U.S.A., Canada, and Mexico.

However, after consulting with his family and close friends, he decided to retire from international football and focus solely on his duties with Bayern Munich.

"I feel very good physically and obviously would have been very tempted by the 2026 World Cup in the U.S.A., Canada, and Mexico. At the same time, I am convinced that now is the right time to take this step and to concentrate fully on FC Bayern Munich in the future," Neuer said in a statement.

Neuer's departure from the national team opens the door for Barcelona's Marc-André ter Stegen, who has been Neuer's understudy for years, with 40 caps for Germany but no appearances in a major tournament.

Ter Stegen could now take over as Germany's first-choice goalkeeper.

Neuer is the second key player to retire from international football this week.

Midfielder Ilkay Gündogan, who captained Germany at Euro 2024, also announced his retirement on Monday, citing fatigue and the strain of balancing club and international duties.

This follows forward Thomas Müller's retirement last month and midfielder Toni Kroos's retirement from all soccer after Germany's exit from Euro 2024.

Germany's coach, Julian Nagelsmann, who previously managed Neuer at Bayern Munich between 2021 and 2023, acknowledged the need to refresh the German squad, which had the highest average age at Euro 2024.

He is likely to introduce younger players as the team prepares for the 2026 World Cup. Germany's next matches will be in the Nations League, where they will face Hungary at home on September 7 and the Netherlands away three days later.

Manuel Neuer has been hailed as one of the most influential goalkeepers in modern football, renowned for his ability to play higher up the field and initiate attacks.

His style redefined what it meant to be a goalkeeper in the contemporary game.

Coach Nagelsmann paid tribute to Neuer's immense contribution to the sport, saying, "Even though I can understand Manu's decision and his reasons, his departure is a big loss — both in sporting and personal terms. Manu shaped goalkeeping play like no one else in the history of soccer."

As Neuer steps away from international football, his legacy as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time is firmly cemented, leaving a lasting impact on both German football and the global game.