The 2026 FIFA World Cup is less than a week away from kicking off and one final player that will be coming to the Meadowlands to participate in the tournament is being put in the spotlight. This week, the focus is on Manuel Neuer, a goalkeeper for Germany. Neuer was a part of Germany’s 2014 FIFA World Cup championship squad and just recently came out of international retirement to compete in the 2026 tournament.
Neuer began his professional career playing for German club Schalke 04 II in 2004. He made significant progress throughout his time with the club, becoming an integral part of the team during their 2006-07 season. By the 2007-08 season, he was one of the most promising young goalkeepers, playing every minute of each game throughout the season.
In the 2010-11 season, Neuer was named as captain and helped lead the team to its first Champions League semi-final appearance. On June 1, 2011, Neuer joined fellow Bundesliga club Bayern Munich on a five-year contract. Neuer began his stint with the club on a high note, serving as an integral part of the club’s UEFA Champions League run in 2012, which saw them reach the finals. In the 2013 UEFA Champions League final, Neuer was perhaps even more impressive, securing eight saves as Bayern Munich went on to win by a score of 2-1.
Neuer had an effective campaign in the 2013-14 season, recording 72 saves, the most he recorded in a season with the club at that time. The following two seasons, Neuer continued to impress, recording 20 clean sheets in both the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons.
On January 2017, Neuer was voted into the FIFA Team of the Year. Later that year, on July 19, it was announced that Neuer would become the captain of both Bayern Munich and the German national team. Neuer would deal with constant injuries over the span of the next few years, however, it did not stop him from continuing to flourish, as he and Bayern Munich picked up their seventh consecutive Bundesliga title in 2019.
On Aug. 23, 2019, Neuer went on to win his second Champions League title, recording a clean sheet as Bayern Munich defeated PSG by a score of 1-0. Neuer would continue his dominance with Bayern Munich, recording his 250th clean sheet with the club in 2024. Neuer currently holds club records for the most saves and appearances in Bayern Munich history. Neuer recently extended his contract until 2027, continuing his iconic legacy with the German club.
After Germany’s expected starting goalkeeper for the 2010 FIFA World Cup was unable to participate in the tournament with an injury, Neuer got his chance. Neuer conceded only one goal in the group stages, as Germany would go on to finish in third place.
At the 2014 FIFA World Cup, in the midst of some of his best seasons, Germany would go on to win the entire tournament, with Neuer winning the Golden Glove, which meant that he recorded the most clean sheets. The 2018 FIFA World Cup was Neuer’s first time playing in the tournament as the captain of Germany’s national team, though the team was unable to replicate their 2014 campaign.
Neuer made history at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first German goalkeeper to compete in four consecutive renditions of the tournament. However, Germany was once again unable to get past the group stages.
Following the UEFA Euro 2024, Neuer announced that he would be retiring from the German national team, however, he recently announced that he will be returning to compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Neuer is currently second all-time for the most FIFA World Cup appearances for a goalkeeper, a record that he will likely claim the top spot in at the conclusion of the tournament.
At the age of 40 years old, this is all but certain to be Neuer’s last appearance in the FIFA World Cup, capping off a historic run. Joining a Germany squad that is currently ranked as the 10th best team in the world, Neuer can end on a high note, as he hopes to repeat his 2014 campaign. Germany will be visiting the Meadowlands to play on June 25 against Ecuador, hoping to return later in the tournament, as the final match will be held at the New York New Jersey Stadium.
