Wednesday, September 2, 2026 - Germany defender, and former Chelsea star, Antonio Rüdiger announced his retirement from international football, two months after making his final appearance for his country at the 2026 World Cup.
The 33-year-old center-back made 86 appearances for the
four-time world champions over a 12-year international career.
"After
some time reflecting, the moment has come for me to end my national team career
and clear the way for the young generation," Rüdiger stated in a social
media announcement. Rüdiger made his senior debut for Germany in May 2014
against Poland, a month before Germany's World Cup victory in Brazil, though he
was not part of that tournament squad.
His highlight at the international level came in 2017 when
he helped Germany win the FIFA Confederations Cup. The center-back noted that
he will now concentrate entirely on his club career with Real Madrid.
"A new
chapter begins for me now, in which I will focus entirely on my club,"
Rüdiger added.Born in Berlin, Rüdiger progressed through the youth academies at
Borussia Dortmund and VfB Stuttgart before spells at AS Roma and Chelsea where
he won the 2021 UEFA Champions League prior to joining Real Madrid in 2022.
His final appearance for Germany came during the 2026 World
Cup in a round-of-32 fixture against Paraguay
"Even
though the big title eluded us in recent tournaments and we had to endure some
painful defeats, this time was an incredibly special chapter for me—one that
will shape me forever," Rüdiger concluded.
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