The 40-year-old goalkeeper had announced before the tournament that the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico would be his last in the national jersey. After a 1-1 draw in the round of 16 against Paraguay, which was lost on penalties, the exit came earlier than hoped. “It is very bitter that everything ends exactly like this,” Neuer said after the match.
Neuer made his debut for the national team in 2009 and was the undisputed number one for over a decade and a half. His greatest success was the 2014 World Cup title in Brazil. With 23 World Cup appearances, he holds the record for the most games by a goalkeeper at World Cups. However, he conceded at least one goal in each of the last three tournaments – a streak that has persisted since the 2014 final (1-0 against Argentina).
After the 2024 European Championship, Neuer had already announced his retirement, but returned before the 2026 World Cup to help the team. This farewell is now final. The German national team, which triumphed in 2014, failed in the group stage in 2018 and 2022 and now in the round of 16 – an ongoing crisis that also brought Neuer’s career to an abrupt end.
Source: 24tv.ua
