Thomas Müller, the 34-year-old German football star, has announced his retirement from the German national team after a remarkable 14-year career. In a heartfelt video message shared on social media, Müller said, ‘After 131 international matches and 45 goals, I’m saying goodbye to the Bundesadler today’.Müller’s international career has been nothing short of illustrious. He made his debut in 2010 against Argentina and went on to play in four World Cups and four European Championships. His crowning achievement came in 2014 when he played a crucial role in Germany’s World Cup victory. Müller was also the top scorer in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.Throughout his international career, Müller scored 45 goals and provided 41 assists in 131 appearances. This makes him the third most capped player in German history, behind only Lothar Matthäus (150) and Miroslav Klose (137).Müller’s final appearance for the national team came during the Euro 2024 quarterfinal against Spain, where Germany suffered a 1-2 defeat. Despite his impressive World Cup record, Müller never managed to score in a European Championship tournament.In his retirement message, Müller reflected on his time with the national team, saying, ‘There were great victories and bitter defeats: sometimes lying on the ground, only to get back up again – in competition with the best players in the world and alongside fantastic teammates, with whom I’ve experienced many unforgettable moments’.While Müller is stepping away from international football, he will continue to play for Bayern Munich, where he has a contract until 2025. As he transitions to being a fan in the stands for the national team, Müller encouraged supporters to continue backing the team during the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Key points
- Thomas Müller has retired from the German national team after 14 years.
- Müller played 131 matches for Germany, scoring 45 goals and providing 41 assists.
- He was a key player in Germany’s 2014 World Cup victory and was the top scorer in the 2010 World Cup.
- Müller will continue to play for Bayern Munich until 2025.
