Thomas Müller: He officially announces his DFB exit

An era is coming to an end: Thomas Müller (34) has officially ended his career in the German national football team. The 2014 world champion announced this in an emotional video on Monday morning (July 15). “After more than 14 years and 131 international matches, I have decided to end my career in the German national team,” the description says. “With this video, I would like to thank all fans and companions who supported me in the DFB team.”

In the video, Müller looks back: “It all started here in Pähl, on this sports field – my huge enthusiasm for football,” he says, while childhood pictures of a young Thomas Müller run across the screen. “When I played my first international match for the German national team over 14 years ago, I would never have dreamed of all this.”

While various pictures from his career are shown, the football star sums up: “Great victories and bitter defeats. Sometimes devastated, only to get back up again. Competing against the best players in the world, alongside fantastic teammates with whom I experienced countless unforgettable moments.”

Thomas Müller says “Servus”

After 131 international matches and 45 goals, he now says goodbye to the German eagle, Müller continued. “I was able to take part in four World Cups and four European Championships, to hold the World Cup trophy in the air and to feel your affection on the pitch.” It has “always made me very proud to play for my country.” He thanks fans and companions and appeals: “Take the enthusiasm and joy of this year’s Euro with you and keep your fingers crossed for the team on the way to the 2026 World Cup. I’ll do that too – now as a fan in the stands and no longer as a player on the green pitch.” The 2014 world champion ends his video with the words “Goodbye, see you soon.”

There have been rumors in recent weeks that Thomas Müller could end his DFB career after the German national football team’s elimination in the quarter-finals of the 2024 European Championship against Spain. Müller himself said after the game in Stuttgart: “Realistically speaking, it is possible that this was my last international match.”

But football fans don’t have to do without the Bavarian superstar completely: Müller is under contract with FC Bayern until 2025.

First reactions to Müller’s DFB exit

National goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (38), who started his DFB career at about the same time as Müller, was one of the first teammates to react to Müller’s announcement. He wrote on Instagram: “Legend! Thank you for everything in the DFB team.” Former national player Lukas Podolski (39) commented with a heart and an applause emoji.

It says: “Unique on and off the pitch! We will miss you… Thank you for everything! Bye, Thomas!”

131 international appearances, 45 goals

Thomas Müller made his debut for the German senior national team in March 2010 against Argentina and was part of national coach Joachim Löw’s (64) squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. In the first group match, he scored his first goal in a senior international match in a 4-0 win against Australia and was the tournament’s top scorer with a total of five goals and three assists, and was also named best young player. Müller also contributed five goals and five assists to the German team’s World Cup victory in Brazil in 2014.

After the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Müller initially left the national team, but returned for the European Championship in May 2021 and also played at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. In May 2024, Müller was called up by Julian Nagelsmann (36) to the squad for the home European Championship. With 131 international matches, he is third among the national players with the most appearances and seventh on the DFB top scorer list with 45 goals. However, he has never scored a goal at a European Championship.