The German central defender Antonio Rüdiger announced his retirement from the national team at 33 years of age, through a post on social media. The player, who currently represents Real Madrid, explained that the decision was made with the aim of making way for the new generation of German footballers.
Rüdiger represented Germany on 66 occasions, having scored 4 goals for the national team. His international career includes participations in major tournaments, such as Euro 2016, the 2018 World Cup, and Euro 2024, held at home in Germany.
In his farewell message, Rüdiger considered the period he spent with the national team as something that will mark him forever, demonstrating the emotional weight that the experience had on his professional and personal career.
This decision comes at a time when the German national team is in a process of renewal, after the early elimination in the 2022 World Cup and the subsequent departure of coach Hansi Flick.
