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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Sports

Antonio Rudiger Announces Germany Retirement After 2026 World Cup

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News From a news agency New plan
  • Antonio Rudiger will retire from Germany’s national team after the 2026 World Cup, ending an international career that began in 2014.
  • The Real Madrid defender made 86 appearances and scored three goals for Germany.
  • Rudiger said he wants to make room for younger players and will focus on his club career as Germany enters a new era under Juergen Klopp.

Antonio Rudiger has brought his long Germany career to an end after the 2026 World Cup, saying the time had come to make room for younger players.

The 33-year-old Real Madrid defender announced his decision on Instagram on Tuesday. “After some time reflecting, it is time for me to end my career with the national team and make way for the younger generation,” Rudiger wrote.

Rudiger made his Germany debut in 2014 after previously playing for AS Roma. He went on to win 86 caps and score three goals for the national side. The 2026 World Cup was his final tournament with Germany, although the campaign ended in a painful defeat and did not deliver the team’s main objective.

After some time reflecting, it is time for me to end my career with the national team and make way for the younger generation.

— Antonio RudigerRudiger explained his decision to retire from Germany.

Even so, Rudiger described his time with the national team as a special chapter in his life and career. “Although we missed out on our major goal in the last tournament (the 2026 World Cup), and had to face a painful defeat, it was a very special chapter that will define me forever,” he wrote.

His retirement means he will not be part of Germany’s plans as the team begins a new coaching era under Juergen Klopp. Rudiger will now turn his attention to continuing his career with Real Madrid.

Although we missed out on our major goal in the last tournament (the 2026 World Cup), and had to face a painful defeat, it was a very special chapter that will define me forever.

— Antonio RudigerRudiger reflected on his final tournament with Germany.
About this summary

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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