Neuer was sidelined a week before the German Cup final due to a calf problem

Veteran goalkeeper and Bayern Munich captain Manuel Neuer was sidelined with a left calf injury just a week before the German Cup final, the Bundesliga club said on Sunday.

«Neuer has to reduce his workload for the time being due to a muscle problem in his left calf,» Bayern said in a statement.

Bayern has not specified how long Neuer’s absence will last. The Bundesliga champions will face Stuttgart in the cup final next Saturday in Berlin, aiming for their 14th league and cup double.

The 40-year-old Neuer, who recently extended his contract with Bayern for another season until the summer of 2027, was substituted an hour into Saturday’s 5-1 win over Cologne in the Bundesliga.

This is the third time in just a few weeks that he has been forced to leave, each time due to a problem in his left calf.

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Neuer retired from international football a few weeks after the 2024 European Championship on home soil, but speculation has been mounting over a possible return for the 2026 World Cup, which starts in less than a month.

According to German media, the 2014 World Cup winner is on an extensive list of 55 names submitted to FIFA earlier this week, from which coach Julian Nagelsmann will select his final squad of 23 to 26 players, as well as possible last-minute injury replacements.

Nagelsmann is expected to announce his selection in Frankfurt on Thursday.

Published on May 17, 2026