Manuel Neuer was given an official farewell from international football along with Thomas Muller and İlkay Gündoğan during Germany’s 1-0 win over the Netherlands in a UEFA Nations League match in Munich last Monday, October 14. The 38-year-old goalkeeper debuted for the national team in 2009 and played in a very impressive 124 matches for Die Mannschaft.
Neuer played his last international tournament at the European Championships at home:
Neuer featured in his last international tournament on home soil in 2024, as Germany went down fighting against Spain, the eventual winners. It was the eighth major international tournament he played in.
A big man standing tall at 6 feet 4 inches, Neuer was always a commanding presence inside the box for Germany. He was also a top-shot-stopper. However, his ability to sweep was on display extensively during Germany’s World Cup-winning campaign in Brazil in 2014. Neuer thwarted many of the opposition’s moves by coming out of the box and initiating some moves for his team.
It was a pity that Lionel Messi won the Golden Ball in that tournament, as many felt that Neuer deserved it the most. In some ways, it was a revisit to the 2002 World Cup, in which Oliver Kahn won the Golden Ball for his wonderful performance in the German goal but lost in the final to Brazil, mainly thanks to Ronaldo’s brilliance.
After the retirement of Kahn and Jens Lehmann, Neuer took up the goalkeeping gloves for the Germans quite successfully in the 2010 World Cup. As a collection of youngsters, including him, guided the Germans to a third-place finish in the tournament, Neuer duly announced his arrival on the international stage.
Germany also reached the semifinal of the European championships in 2016 with Neuer as their custodian. The disappointment of bowing out from the group stages in successive World Cups in 2018 and 2022 must have hurt the team. However, it was inevitable as the golden generation that first made its presence felt in 2006 veered towards its decline.
Neuer continues to play his club football for Bayern Munich, having already won multiple Bundesliga and UEFA Champions League titles.
However, he should not have too many years left at the top. Ideally, he will want to become the second German goalkeeper after Sepp Maier to win three European Cup/Champions League titles. One can only wish for a happy end to a glittering career for him. There can be no doubt about the fact that he is one of the finest goalkeepers of all time.