Manuel Neuer has put an end to any speculation about his international future. The 40-year-old Germany goalkeeper confirmed Thursday that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the last time he pulls on the national shirt, drawing the curtain on a career that includes a World Cup title in 2014 and spans five consecutive World Cup appearances. He made his return after stepping back following Euro 2024, and his spot in Julian Nagelsmann's squad caught many by surprise.
Why did Manuel Neuer return to the Germany squad for 2026?
Manuel Neuer's path back to the national team was not a straightforward one. He had originally stepped away after Germany's quarter-final exit at Euro 2024 on home soil, a decision he stood firmly behind. "I stepped back in 2024 with a good reason after a good home Euro. For me it was the right decision. It felt right," he told reporters. "It would have been too much of a sporting burden for me to have kept playing for the national team for the last two years."
What changed was form. A strong second half of the season at Bayern Munich put him back in Nagelsmann's thinking, and he was handed a recall despite Oliver Baumann having been lined up as Germany's first-choice keeper. Neuer repaid the faith immediately, featuring in Germany's 7-1 demolition of Curaçao in their Group E opener, his first appearance for Die Mannschaft in two years. There has been no drama in the camp over the goalkeeping situation, according to Neuer himself. "We work together with Oliver. We support each other and train for the team. After coming together we discussed things and talked about how it came about with my return," he said. It is the kind of settled environment Germany need, having crashed out in the group stages in both 2018 and 2022.
Is this really Manuel Neuer's last tournament?
By his own admission, yes, and he is leaving no room for ambiguity this time. "For me it is clear that this is my last tournament. I do not plan to be there in two years' time for the next Euro," Neuer said. He has clearly done the emotional work too. "In the last days I have dealt with the fact that these are the last games for Germany," he added. "But I want to look forward to all the games and not to any goodbye shirts."
That last line says a lot. Neuer is not interested in a farewell tour. He wants to compete, not be commemorated. At 40, playing a fifth consecutive World Cup across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, he is still approaching the tournament on his own terms.
