Popular Sports
All Sports
Show All

Welcome to TNT Sports

TNT Sports is the new home of Eurosport bringing together all the same great content in one place

Thomas Muller retires from international football after 14 years following Germany’s Euro 2024 exit

Published 15/07/2024 at 10:03 GMT+1

After 14 years, German national team legend Thomas Muller has retired from international football. In 131 appearances for DFB, the 34-year-old scored 45 times which included 10 goals across four World Cup campaigns. He is the third most-capped player in German history and played a crucial role in delivering the country's fourth world title at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

No sign of stopping - Messi aims for further Copa America glory after Argentina reach final

Video credit: SNTV

Thomas Muller has retired from international football, ending his 14-year association with the German national team in which he made 131 caps.
Julian Nagelsmann’s side exited Euro 2024 at the quarter-final stage after they were beaten by 2-1 by eventual champions Spain after extra time, which turned out to be Muller’s final game.
There were emotional scenes following the full-time whistle in Stuttgart, with Muller in tears following Germany’s exit on home soil - the 34-year-old’s final major tournament.
"When I was able to play my first international match in the German national team 14 years ago, I could not have dreamed of this," Muller said in a video posted on YouTube.
"Great victories and bitter defeats. To stand up against the best, alongside fantastic teammates with whom I have experienced unforgettable moments.
"Feeling your affection on the pitch, it always made me very proud to play for my country. We celebrated together and sometimes shed a tear together. I would like to say thank you to all the fans and teammates of the national team.
"Thank you for your support over the years. Keep your enthusiasm for the team ahead of the 2026 World Cup. That’s what I’m doing now as a fan in the stands and no longer as a player on the pitch. Goodbye."
Muller came through the youth ranks and made his Germany debut in 2010 as a substitute in a 1-0 friendly defeat against Argentina at the Allianz Arena, his home stadium for 16 years with Bayern Munich.
He was called up for the World Cup in South Africa later that year - his first major international tournament - and was the joint-leading goalscorer with five goals in six games as Germany were knocked out by Spain in the semi-final.
The West Germany-born forward scored 10 goals in 19 World Cup appearances in total, where he is ranked joint-tenth in the competition’s all-time goalscoring charts.
picture

‘What a goal!’ – ‘Mr Bayern Munich’ Muller doubles Bavarians’ lead against Lazio

Video credit: TNT Sports

Muller went on to feature in eight major tournaments during his international career - four World Cups and four Euro campaigns - although he only played 56 minutes off the bench at Euro 2024.
He was part of the historic Germany squad that won the World Cup in 2014, beating Lionel Messi’s Argentina 1-0 at the Maracana Stadium in Rio for the country’s fourth world title.
During the World Cup in Brazil, Muller netted five times - including a hat-trick against Portugal in the opening game - as he played a pivotal role in Germany’s bid for the sport's most prestigious accolade.
Despite his sensational record in front of goal at the World Cup, Muller never found the net at the European Championships in 17 appearances.
Overall, he played 131 times for Germany and scored 45 goals which puts him joint-fifth in the German goalscoring charts, behind the likes of Miroslav Klose, Gerd Muller and Lukas Podolski.
With 131 appearances, Muller ends his Germany career as the nation’s third most-capped player, behind only Lothar Matthaus (150) and Miroslav Klose (137).

discovery+ is the streaming home of the Olympic Games, and the only place you can watch every moment of Paris 2024 this summer.
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement