Manuel Neuer becomes most-capped goalkeeper in World Cup history

Germany's Manuel Neuer has set a new benchmark in football history, becoming the goalkeeper with the most appearances in the FIFA World Cup. He achieved this milestone during Germany's Group E clash against Ivory Coast, marking his 21st World Cup match and surpassing the previous record held by France's Hugo Lloris, who had 20 appearances. Neuer, who is 40 years old, confirmed that he will retire from international football after the conclusion of the FIFA World Cup 2026. He was a key part of Germany's 2014 World Cup-winning squad and is participating in his fifth consecutive World Cup as the first-choice goalkeeper. His inclusion in the squad came as a surprise following an impressive second half of the season with Bayern Munich. Neuer had previously retired from international football after Germany's Euro 2024 exit but made a comeback for the World Cup qualifiers. He stated that playing for the national team for the past two years would have been too much of a sporting burden. He expressed his intention to focus on the upcoming games rather than on farewells, emphasizing that this is his final tournament and he does not plan to participate in the next Euro. In the same match, Ivory Coast's Franck Kessie also added to his World Cup legacy by becoming the second-oldest goalscorer for his country in the tournament's history.

“

I stepped back in 2024 with a good reason after a good home Euro. For me, it was the right decision. It felt right.