Antonio Rüdiger Retires From Germany Duty

Antonio Rüdiger has announced his retirement from international football with Germany, bringing an end to a career with the national team that spanned 86 caps.

The Real Madrid defender said in a statement: “After a lot of thought, the time has come for me to end my career with the national team and make way for the younger generation.”

“When I wore the Germany shirt for the first time in 2014, I never imagined that my career would eventually reach 86 international matches.”

Rüdiger described his time with the national team as an exceptional chapter in his career, despite falling short of a major title in recent tournaments, adding that the experiences and memories he shared with Germany would stay with him forever.

He thanked his team-mates and the coaching and administrative staff who worked with him, singling out Joachim Löw, Hansi Flick and Julian Nagelsmann, as well as Horst Hrubesch, who he credited as a key supporter of his career through Germany’s youth ranks.

The defender also expressed his gratitude to the national team’s supporters, particularly for the atmosphere they created at Euro 2024 on home soil.

He concluded: “A new chapter in my life begins now, and I will fully focus on my career with the club. Thank you for this journey.”