Manuel Neuer: The aura of a record-breaking goalkeeper
Key takeaways
- Germany's hopes at the 2026 World Cup are connected to world-class goalkeeper Manuel Neuer's fitness and form.
- By playing in goal during Germany's 7-1 win over Curacao, Neuer has now played at five World Cups, equaling Lothar Matthäus's German record.
- "Either you love football or you don't and that's why it's really special for me to start this tournament together with the team," Neuer said afterwards.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Germany's hopes at the 2026 World Cup are connected to world-class goalkeeper Manuel Neuer's fitness and form.
https://p.dw.com/p/5FLPKManuel Neuer returned from retirement to play for Germany at his fifth World Cup Image: Christian Charisius/dpa/picture alliance Advertisement There are few records left for Manuel Neuer to break in his career, but his surprise return to the Germany team for the 2026 World Cup has seen him reach new milestones.
By playing in goal during Germany's 7-1 win over Curacao, Neuer has now played at five World Cups, equaling Lothar Matthäus's German record. His appearance also made him the oldest ever German international, aged 40 years and 79 days, breaking a record previously held Matthäus (39 years and 91 days). The game was also his 20th World Cup appearance, drawing him level with former French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris as the goalkeeper with the most tournament appearances.