2024-08-20 11:21:19
At the European Championships on home soil, İlkay Gündoğan led the DFB team onto the field as captain. This will no longer be the case at the 2026 World Cup.
İlkay Gündoğan will no longer lead the German national team to the 2026 World Cup. The 33-year-old offensive player is ending his DFB career after 82 international matches, as the FC Barcelona professional announced.
He writes on Instagram: “Dear football Germany, after a few weeks of reflection, I have come to the conclusion that it is time to end my national team career. I look back with great pride on 82 international matches for my home country – a number that I could never have dreamed of when I made my debut for the senior national team in 2011.”
Gündoğan continued: “My highlight was clearly the huge honour of being able to lead the team as captain at our home European Championships last summer! After all these years, we have finally managed to make the nation proud again – the fact that I was able to play a part in that makes me very happy.”
He also explained his decision to retire by saying that it was a strain – both physical and mental. “Even before the tournament, I felt a certain tiredness in my body and also in my head, which made me think. And the games at club and national level are not getting any less.”
Gündogan will “definitely remain a fan of the DFB team”. He hopes very much that “the upward trend can be continued together – and then there is nothing to stop us from being one of the closest contenders for the title at the 2026 World Cup. We have a fantastic coach, a really strong team and a great team spirit.”