Manuel Neuer announces his retirement

 Manuel Neuer, Bayern Munich's goalkeeper, announced on Wednesday that he is ending his career with the German national team, thus concluding a journey during which he played 124 matches with "Die Mannschaft." Neuer was instrumental in winning the 2014 World Cup and securing third place in the 2010 World Cup.

In a video posted on Instagram, Neuer said, "After long and intense discussions with my family and friends, I have decided to end my career with the national team. Anyone who knows me understands that making this decision wasn't easy for me."

Neuer had previously mentioned at the start of the European Championship, hosted by Germany this summer and where the team was eliminated in the quarter-finals after a 2-1 extra-time loss to Spain, that he would decide on his future with the national team after the tournament. The loss to Spain on July 5th in Stuttgart marked Neuer's last appearance with the national team, which he began on June 2, 2009, in a friendly match against the UAE that ended in a 7-2 victory for Germany.

Reflecting on his years as Germany's goalkeeper, Neuer said, "It was a wonderful time that shaped me, and I'm very proud of it. Winning the World Cup in 2014 and the incredible atmosphere during the European Championship on our home soil this year are highlights I am most grateful for. It was an honor to captain our national team until 2023. I loved wearing the Germany jersey."

With his announcement, Neuer joins a list of other great stars whose journeys with "Die Mannschaft" ended after the loss to Spain, including Toni Kroos, Thomas Müller, and Ilkay Gündoğan.

Neuer ranks fifth in the list of most-capped German players, with 124 matches, 26 fewer than record-holder Lothar Matthäus. Unlike his numerous titles with Bayern Munich—winning the Bundesliga 11 times consecutively between 2013 and 2023, five domestic cups, and two titles each in the UEFA Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, and UEFA Super Cup—the 2014 World Cup remains Neuer's only major international triumph with the national team.