Germany’s long-serving goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, has confirmed that he will retire from international football again after the World Cup, having come out of retirement solely for the tournament. Neuer, a key figure in Germany’s 2014 World Cup victory, is 40 years old and participating in his fifth consecutive World Cup as the starting goalkeeper for the national team. He had initially retired after Germany’s quarter-final exit in Euro 2024 on home soil.
Coach Julian Nagelsmann surprised many by including Neuer in the squad following an impressive performance in the latter half of the season with Bayern Munich. Speaking at a press conference, Neuer explained his decision, stating, “I made the choice to step back in 2024 after a successful Euro competition. It was the right decision for me as the sporting demands of playing for the national team would have been too much for me in the last two years.”
Neuer emphasized that the ongoing World Cup will be his final tournament, ruling out any plans to participate in the next Euro in two years. Despite acknowledging that these are his last games for Germany, he expressed his focus on the upcoming matches rather than bidding farewell.
Neuer was chosen over Oliver Baumann as the team’s goalkeeper, with Baumann originally slated to be the first choice before Neuer’s return. Neuer made his first appearance for the national team in two years during Germany’s 7-1 victory over Curacao in the opening World Cup Group E match.
Looking ahead to the upcoming game against Ivory Coast, Neuer highlighted the team’s goal of advancing to the knockout stage, aiming to avoid the early exits experienced in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Neuer stressed the importance of focusing on the present and securing a win to progress in the tournament.
While a World Cup triumph would mark Neuer as the only German player to win the trophy twice, he expressed gratitude for the opportunity to participate in another tournament at his age. Neuer reflected on the special experience of being part of the World Cup squad and acknowledged the challenges ahead while remaining optimistic about Germany’s chances in the competition.