Manuel Neuer surpasses Matthäus as oldest DFB player and returns after 709 days

Neuer thus stood in the DFB goal for the first time in 709 days. He had played his 124th international match in July 2024 in Stuttgart, during the home European Championship quarter-final exit against Spain, which ended 1:2. Afterwards, he had announced his retirement from the national team, before national coach Julian Nagelsmann brought him back for the World Cup in America. The nomination triggered significant criticism, and Oliver Baumann – who had deputized for Neuer in the two final World Cup warm-up matches against Finland (4:0) and the USA (2:1) – was also displaced to the bench at short notice.

In Houston, the German fans already loudly celebrated their captain during the warm-up. Neuer, the only remaining 2014 world champion called up for the World Cup squad, received the so-called legacy patch on his jersey for his fifth World Cup participation. This FIFA award is also given to Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa. Ronaldo and Messi are already playing their sixth World Cup in the USA; Neuer is now between the posts for the fifth time, following the 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022 tournaments.

Nagelsmann relies on Neuers experience

Nagelsmann justified bringing Neuer back by pointing to his vast experience. „Er ist ein Ruhe gebender Faktor für uns“, the national coach said in an ARD interview. Neuer himself appeared relieved after the match: „Ich kann spielen. Es ist alles gut. Ich habe die Belastungsproben bestanden. Ich habe ein bisschen darauf warten müssen. Es hat sich gut angefühlt, mit der Mannschaft auf dem Platz zu stehen."

On the pitch, Neuer quickly reminded everyone of his strengths as a sweeper-keeper. Around ten minutes after the restart, he came far out of his goal and cleared the ball with his head near the halfway line. In the second half, he also raised his right arm to signal an offside position at the edge of the five-yard box – a gesture that has by now become typical of him.

Unfortunate equalizer and record chase

Shortly before the break, however, Neuer had to concede the 1:1 equalizer. Livano Comenencia scored for Curaçao, ranked 82nd in the world, though his shot was unfortunately deflected by Joshua Kimmich's knee. It was the Caribbean side's very first shot on target in the match. Neuer commented: „Wenn er nicht abgefälscht wird, hab ich ihn." His first save after the goal followed in stoppage time of the first half. Neuer thus remained without a clean sheet for an eighth consecutive World Cup match – he had last kept a clean sheet in the 2014 World Cup final at the Maracanã against Argentina (1:0).

Twelve minutes passed between Neuers first and second touch of the ball: a goal kick and a back pass, both played with his feet. In the end, the result was a clear 7:1 victory, which nevertheless carried a small blemish because of the unfortunate goal conceded. For Neuer, it was his 125th international match, putting him level with Lothar Matthäus in fifth place in the all-time DFB rankings; Matthäus made 150 appearances. On the list of the oldest World Cup players of all time, Neuer moved up to eighth place.

If Germany reach the quarter-finals and Neuer plays in every match, he could equal Matthäus's German record with what would then be his 25th World Cup appearances. At 20 World Cup appearances, Neuer has also drawn level with France's Hugo Lloris, who had taken from him the record as the oldest World Cup goalkeeper at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and has since ended his international career. The oldest World Cup player remains Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El Hadary, who played in goal in 2018 at the age of 45. The German team is preparing in the World Cup base camp in Winston-Salem for the remaining group matches.