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Manuel Neuer has officially announced that he will once again retire from international football with Germany following the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The iconic Bayern Munich goalkeeper, who reversed his earlier decision to step away in order to join Julian Nagelsmann’s squad for this summer’s tournament, hopes to bring his remarkable international journey to a close by capturing a second world championship.

A final chapter for Germany’s long-serving No.1

The 40-year-old Bayern Munich legend had previously retired from international duty after Euro 2024 but was persuaded to return after showcasing superb form at the club level. His comeback has provided Germany with crucial experience and leadership ahead of the global showpiece.

Addressing the media, Neuer elaborated on the reasons behind his initial retirement. “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 explained. “It would have been too much of a sporting burden for me to keep playing for the national team for the last two years.”

The road to a definitive farewell

Even though he has successfully reestablished himself as the first-choice keeper under Nagelsmann, Neuer insists this return will indeed be his final one. He is keenly anticipating his fifth consecutive World Cup but is equally mindful of preparing for life beyond the national setup once the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico is over.

Reaffirming his stance, Neuer 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 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.”

Balancing the goalkeeping hierarchy

Neuer’s comeback pushed Oliver Baumann back to the substitutes’ bench, even though the Hoffenheim goalkeeper had been expected to start during Neuer’s absence. Despite this shift, the veteran shot-stopper emphasised that there is no tension among the squad members, particularly after his impressive performance in Germany’s 7-1 opening victory over Curacao — his first international appearance in two years.

“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,” Neuer explained. The cooperative atmosphere within the goalkeeping group is seen as essential as Germany aims to move past the disappointments of their early exits in the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.

Pursuing a second World Cup triumph

As Germany prepare to face the Ivory Coast on Saturday, Neuer’s focus remains firmly on ensuring the team’s qualification for the knockout phase. A win would secure their progress with one game remaining, giving the veteran a chance to dream of becoming the first German player to win two FIFA World Cups.

“This is our goal. We have everything in our own hands. We don't want to look back at past World Cups,” said Neuer. “The team does not deal with that. We look at the next step and the next step is Ivory Coast. To qualify after the second game would be special and would allow us to look a bit further ahead. It is an absolute privilege to be here again. It would be very special to do it a second time, but if I did not see the chance that we could do it, I would not be sitting here.”

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