Antonio Rüdiger retires from Germany duty to ‘make way for the younger generation’

Antonio Rüdiger is leaving Germany’s national team after 86 appearances, saying the time has come to make room for a younger generation. The 33-year-old Real Madrid defender announced his decision more than two months after Germany’s early World Cup exit in the United States.

“After some time to reflect, the time has come for me to end my career with the national team and make way for the younger generation,” Rüdiger wrote on social media. He described his years with Germany as “an extremely special chapter that will shape me forever,” despite the team’s failure to win a major title at recent tournaments and its painful defeats.

Rüdiger thanked Joachim Löw, Hansi Flick and Julian Nagelsmann, as well as Horst Hrubesch, who supported him in Germany’s youth teams. He is the second Germany international to retire after the World Cup, following record goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

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After some time to reflect, the time has come for me to end my career with the national team and make way for the younger generation.

The Berlin-born defender made his Germany debut in a 0-0 friendly against Poland in May 2014. He played at three World Cups and two European Championships, although injury ruled him out of Euro 2016. He appeared only against Sweden at the 2018 World Cup and became a regular starter in Qatar four years later, when Germany again exited early.

A knee injury in autumn 2025 cost him his starting place under Nagelsmann. Rüdiger returned during the tournament after Nico Schlotterbeck suffered an ankle injury against Ivory Coast, but Germany lost to Paraguay on penalties in the knockout round. He later defended Nagelsmann over the team’s sporting disappointment. Germany’s next campaign begins under new coach Jürgen Klopp against the Netherlands on Sept. 24, followed by matches against Greece and Serbia.

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Even though the major title was absent at the last tournaments and we had to accept some painful defeats, this time was an extremely special chapter for me that will shape me forever.