World Cup 2026 Sends Off a Generation of International Stars
The 2026 World Cup has brought the curtain down on a number of prominent international careers, with players from across Europe, South America and Africa confirming their retirements in the days following the tournament. According to The Guardian, at least 11 notable figures have stepped away from their national sides after the finals in North America.
Manuel Neuer
Perhaps the highest-profile departure is Germany’s Manuel Neuer, who made his 23rd and final World Cup appearance before a penalty shootout defeat by Paraguay ended his side’s run. Neuer had originally retired after Euro 2024 but reversed that decision shortly before the tournament began. Despite criticism from former Germany defender Robert Huth — who felt the late inclusion