Veteran German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer will retire after the end of the World Cup after returning to the team only for the tournament, he said on Thursday.
Neuer, a 2014 World Cup winner who is 40 years old and playing his fifth consecutive World Cup as Germany’s starting goalkeeper, had retired after the Euro 2024 quarter-final on home soil. He was a surprise selection in coach Julian Nagelsmann’s team after a strong second half of the season at club Bayern Munich.
«I stepped back in 2024 for a good reason after a good home European Championship. For me it was the right decision. It felt good,» Neuer told a press conference. “It would have been too much of a sporting burden for me (to continue playing for the national team) over the past two years.
«It is clear to me that this is my last tournament. I do not plan to be there for the next European Championship in two years’ time. In recent days I have taken into account the fact that these are the last matches for Germany. But I want to look forward to all the matches and not to farewell shirts.»
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Neuer got the nod ahead of Oliver Baumann, who was named first choice for the tournament before his German teammate returned, and he played his first match for his country in two years in the 7-1 opening World Cup Group E victory in Curacao.
«We work together with Oliver. We support each other and train for the team. After we got together, we discussed things and how it came about (with my return),» Neuer said.
FIRST ROUND LOCKOUTS
Neuer will be in goal for Saturday’s group match against Ivory Coast and a win would see Germany progress to the knockout stages with a game to spare. At the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, the Germans had to drop out in the first round.
«This is our goal. We have everything in our own hands. We don’t want to look back on previous World Cups,» Neuer said. «The team is not concerned with that. We are looking at the next step and the next step is Ivory Coast.»
“It would be special to qualify after the second race and it would allow us to look a little further ahead.”
A World Cup win would make Neuer the only German player to win the trophy twice, but the goalkeeper said he was just happy to see another tournament at his age.
«It’s an absolute gift to be here again. It would be really special to do it a second time, but if I didn’t see the opportunity that we could do it, I wouldn’t be sitting here,» he said.
Published on June 19, 2026
