Germany midfielder Thomas Muller has announced his retirement from international football.
The 34-year-old made 131 appearances and scored 45 goals during his 14-year spell with Germany, was part of Germany’s World Cup-winning squad in 2014 and won the Golden Boot award at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
His last appearance, coming on as an 80th minute substitute in Germany’s European Championship quarter-final defeat to Spain, was his eighth major tournament.
With 131 appearances, Müller is Germany’s third-most capped player behind Lothar Matthaus (150) and Miroslav Klose (137), and he is Germany’s sixth-highest goalscorer, tied with Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
“There is no other player like Thomas Muller,” said Germany coach Rudi Voller. “His value in German football is immeasurable. Whether at Bayern or with the national team, Thomas has always been the face, the role model and the top striker of each team. His game is unconventional, instinctive and unpredictable, and that is precisely why he is so successful.”
The versatile Bayern Munich forward made his international debut against Argentina in March 2010 at the age of 20. Toni Kroos, who has announced his intention to retire from professional football after Euro 2024, also won his first international cap in the same match.
Müller scored his first international goal in the opening group stage match of the 2010 World Cup against Australia and his five goals in the tournament earned him the Golden Boot and FIFA Young Player of the Year awards.
(Clive Rose/Getty Images)
Muller also scored five goals at the 2014 World Cup, including a hat-trick against Portugal in the group stage and a famous goal in the semi-final, where they beat Brazil 7-1, before playing the full 120 minutes in the final, beating Argentina.
He was left out of the national team under coach Joachim Löw between 2019 and 2021 but returned to the squad ahead of Euro 2020.
Muller made two appearances off the bench at Euro 2024 as Germany lost 2-1 to Spain in extra time before being eliminated from the tournament.
“I’m happy to have had the opportunity to accompany Thomas throughout part of his career, both with the national team and at FC Bayern,” said coach Julian Nagelsmann. “It was a pleasure working with him.”
“Thomas is a professional with the same passion for football as he was on day one. He has enriched our European Championship team not only with his sportsmanship but also as a leader, role model and empathetic person.”
Muller’s contract with Bayern runs until 2025.
Going deeper
With Kroos retiring and Müller and Neuer likely to follow, where does Germany go from here?
(Louis Genet/AFP via Getty Images)
