Manuel Neuer, the 40-year-old Bayern Munich goalkeeper, is heading to his fifth FIFA World Cup. In doing so, he becomes the oldest player ever to represent Germany at a major international tournament, surpassing a record that stood for over two decades.
The previous record holder was Lothar Matthäus, who was 39 when he suited up for Germany at Euro 2000. Neuer, born on March 27, 1986, edges past that mark by a full year. Meanwhile, a Solana-based meme token bearing his name has appeared in crypto markets.
From retirement to the starting lineup
Neuer stepped away from international duty after Euro 2024, having earned 124 caps as Germany’s most-capped goalkeeper.
On May 21, 2026, coach Julian Nagelsmann named Neuer to Germany’s 26-man World Cup squad and confirmed him as the starting goalkeeper for the opening match against Curaçao, scheduled for June 14, 2026.
