‘Keep building on what we started’ - Neuer on retirement from the national team

Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has decided to retire from the German national team. He shared his thoughts on this decision and addressed his fans and teammates through The Players' Tribune.

"Perhaps I could have won the Euros too, but I have no regrets. When my son grows up and people talk about how his father played for Germany, I hope my legacy will be that I played without fear and that I helped my teammates become better players every day.

If that's what is said about me, I will be happy.

Now, I can focus on helping Bayern Munich get back to where we belong. At 38, I still have that childlike passion for football. If I see a ball lying 20 meters away from me, I have to run over and do something with it—kick it, head it... something. I can't just let the ball lie there. It's a crime against football. My coaches laugh because I’m like a little kid who’s just discovered the game, but for me, it’s always been like that.

The day I stop chasing the ball, I know it will be time to stop altogether.

As for the national team, I'll be watching my former teammates as just another fan. I’m grateful to all of you, guys, for the work we did together, for the memories we shared, for the laughs and jokes.

I'll miss you.

Continue building on what we started," said Manuel Neuer.

Neuer made his debut for the German national team back in 2009. Since then, he has been the main goalkeeper for Die Mannschaft, playing 124 matches and securing 21 clean sheets.

In 2014, Neuer became a World Cup champion.

Neuer's last match for Germany was the quarterfinal of Euro 2024, where Julian Nagelsmann's team lost to Spain 2-1 in the final moments of extra time.