Ilkay Gündogan, the 33-year-old captain of the German national team and Barcelona midfielder, has announced his retirement from international football. Gündogan, who made his debut for Germany in 2011, played 82 games for his country, scoring 19 goals. His decision comes after careful consideration and cites physical and mental fatigue as the primary reasons.In a statement, Gündogan expressed pride in his international career, saying, ‘I look back with great pride on 82 international games for my home country – a number I never could have imagined when I made my debut for the A-national team in 2011’. He highlighted captaining the team during the Euro 2024 tournament on home soil as the pinnacle of his national team career.Gündogan’s last major tournament was Euro 2024, where Germany was eliminated in the quarterfinals after a 2-1 loss to Spain. Despite the disappointing end, he expressed satisfaction in helping to ‘make the nation proud again after all these years’.The midfielder’s retirement from international duty comes amidst speculation about his club future. While currently with Barcelona, there are rumors of a potential return to Manchester City or even a move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr. His contract with Barcelona is set to expire in 2025.German national team coach Julian Nagelsmann paid tribute to Gündogan, praising his intelligence and skill on the ball. Nagelsmann will now face the challenge of finding a new captain and reshaping the team as they look ahead to the 2026 World Cup.
Key points
- Ilkay Gündogan, 33, has retired from international football after 82 appearances for Germany.
- Gündogan cited physical and mental fatigue as reasons for his retirement.
- His last major tournament was Euro 2024, where he captained Germany.
- Speculation surrounds Gündogan’s club future, with potential moves from Barcelona being discussed.
Contradictions👾There is a discrepancy in Gündogan’s age, with most sources stating he is 33 years old, while one source incorrectly reports him as 31 years old.
