Neuer surpasses Lloris as most-capped goalkeeper
Germany's veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer etched his name into FIFA World Cup history on Saturday, June 21, 2026, by becoming the goalkeeper with the most appearances in the tournament's history. Neuer featured in his 21st World Cup match during Germany's Group E clash against Ivory Coast in Toronto, Canada, surpassing France's Hugo Lloris, who had 20 appearances. The milestone was confirmed by the 433 X handle.
Kessie also makes history for Ivory Coast
In the same match, Ivory Coast midfielder Franck Kessie opened the scoring in the 30th minute, adding to his personal World Cup legacy. At 29 years and 183 days, Kessie became the second-oldest goalscorer for Ivory Coast in World Cup history, behind only Didier Drogba, who scored in 2010 at the age of 32 years and 101 days, according to Opta.
Neuer confirms retirement after World Cup
Ahead of the match, Neuer confirmed during a press conference on Thursday (local time) that he will retire from international football after the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 40-year-old, who was part of Germany's 2014 World Cup-winning squad, is featuring in his fifth consecutive World Cup as the first-choice goalkeeper. He had initially retired from international duty after Germany's quarter-final exit at Euro 2024 on home soil, according to Reuters.
Surprise inclusion in 2026 squad
Neuer's inclusion in the 2026 World Cup squad came as a surprise after coach Julian Nagelsmann named him following an impressive second half of the season with Bayern Munich. Neuer made his comeback in Germany's opening Group E match against Curacao, a commanding 7-1 victory. Reflecting on his decision, Neuer told a press conference, as quoted by Reuters: "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 added, "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." The goalkeeper also stated, "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. In the last few days, I have dealt with the fact that these are the last games for Germany. But I want to look forward to all the games and not to any goodbye shirts."
