Antonio Rudiger Retires from International Football

Antonio Rudiger, a 33-year-old defender for Real Madrid, announced his retirement from international football on Tuesday, following his last appearance for the Germany National Team at the 2026 World Cup. Over his career, Rudiger made 86 appearances for Germany, debuting in 2014, shortly before Germany won the World Cup.

He expressed a desire to clear the way for younger players and focus on his club commitments, stating, “A new chapter begins for me now, in which I will focus entirely on my club.” Rudiger's international career included significant moments, such as winning the 2017 Confederations Cup, but also coincided with a challenging period for the German team, which faced early exits in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and a last-32 exit in 2026 against Paraguay. He has been under contract with Real Madrid since 2022 and has won both the Champions League and La Liga with the club.