2024-07-16 17:55:12
Thomas Müller is retiring from the national team. But he still has one last big goal with Bayern. Will Toni Kroos’ prophecy come true after that?
What had already become apparent is now official: World champion and fan favorite Thomas Müller is retiring from the German national football team. The 34-year-old announced this decision in a video on social media on Monday. “After 131 international matches and 45 goals, I say goodbye to the federal eagle today,” said Müller in the video, for which he had put on the DFB jersey with his number 13 one last time.
He recorded it in a place that was very special to him. “It all started here in Pähl, on this sports field. My huge enthusiasm for football,” he says at the beginning of the video, looking around. “When I played my first international match for the German national team over 14 years ago, I could never have dreamed of all this, great victories and bitter defeats,” Müller continues, speaking of “infinitely many unforgettable moments.”
One such example was the quarter-final exit at the European Championships at home against Spain (1:2 after extra time). Anyone who watched him during his lap of honour on the pitch at the Stuttgart Arena could already have guessed that it would be his last. He had never been seen so emotional before. He cried uncontrollably. The offensive player already knew that this was probably his last appearance as a national player.
“It was a mixture,” said Müller afterwards in the stadium’s catacombs about the tears of disappointment and farewell. He described what was going on inside him during the lap of honour as follows: “Then I saw the curve again with the family.” His brother Simon was standing there and was crying too. “It makes you a bit melancholy,” said Müller, “but it was also a beautiful moment.” A moment that left even the otherwise talkative Müller, who is not nicknamed “Radio Müller” for nothing, speechless.
Nevertheless, he did not forget to say a fitting farewell to the crowd, who were also disappointed by the defeat. It was Müller who led the way in this emotionally exceptional situation and encouraged his teammates to stand together in front of the fans to thank them for their support.
He then announced that he would be talking to national coach Julian Nagelsmann about his future. “Realistically, it could well be that this was my last game today,” said Müller, but at the same time made it clear: “I will not rule out playing for Germany.”
He didn’t do that now either. “Goodbye,” said the 34-year-old anyway. “It always made me very proud to play for my country. We celebrated together and sometimes even shed a tear together,” said Müller as he said goodbye. In the future, he will also keep his fingers crossed for the DFB team as a fan from the stands.
However, national coach Nagelsmann hopes that this is not the end of Müller’s time in the association. He will be missed a lot in the national team, said Nagelsmann: “As much as I regret that he will no longer be with us, I have great hope that Thomas will continue to shape German football in the future – as a player for FC Bayern and in other roles in the future.”