The Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer announced his retirement from international football on Wednesday, after playing 124 times for his country since 2009. The 38-year-old Bayern Munich star helped Germany to win the 2014 World Cup, and also won the golden glove for the tournament’s best keeper. “Today marks the end of my career in the German national football team,” Neuer wrote on Instagram. “Anyone who knows me knows that I didn’t take this decision lightly. I feel very well physically and, of course, the 2026 World Cup … would also have appealed to me. And yet I came to the decision that now is exactly the right time to end my chapter in the national team,” he added. Germany’s national football federation (DFB) paid tribute to Neuer, calling him one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time. “All words seem too small. But they come from the heart: Thank you, Manu,” it said in a statement. “For your unique, outstanding successes, of course. But especially for your camaraderie, your dedication, your inspiration for fellow players and millions of fans and footballers around the world. “You have changed the game of goalkeeping, you have shaped it. Just like this team. Your team. As a back-up. As captain. As a role model. As a world champion. As a friend. We will miss you!” Neuer’s retirement comes two days after Ilkay Gündogan, who is close to completing a return to Manchester City from Barcelona, also retired from international football. Both players featured at Euro 2024, where the hosts were eliminated in the quarter-finals by the eventual champions, Spain. The former Schalke goalkeeper retires as Germany’s fifth-most capped men’s player, behind Lothar Matthäus, Miroslav Klose, Thomas Müller and Lukas Podolski. Barcelona’s Marc-André ter Stegen is expected to take over as first-choice goalkeeper for the upcoming Nations League fixtures and World Cup qualifiers. Bayern, with whom Neuer has won 11 Bundesliga titles, two Champions Leagues and two Club World Cup titles, begin their league campaign at Wolfsburg on Sunday.