Thomas Müller is ending his career in the national football team. After the European Championship defeat against Spain, the Munich player is drawing a line under it. But his career continues at the club.
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. “After 131 international matches and 45 goals, I say goodbye to the federal eagle today,” said Müller in the video. After the quarter-final exit at the home European Championship against Spain, Müller had already announced a meeting with national football coach Julian Nagelsmann. The “Bild” newspaper recently reported on Müller’s decision.
“It all started here in Pähl on this sports field. My huge enthusiasm for football. When I was allowed to play 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,” said Müller in his video: “Sometimes devastated and then getting back up again. Competing against the best players in the world, alongside fantastic teammates with whom I experienced countless unforgettable moments.”
Third most international matches after Matthäus and Klose
Müller has played 131 times for Germany since his debut in March 2010 in a World Cup friendly against Argentina (0:1) in his hometown of Munich. Only record holder Lothar Matthäus (150) and Miroslav Klose (137) have played more often for the DFB team. The 2014 World Champion will, however, fulfil his contract with FC Bayern Munich, which runs until 2025, the “Bild” newspaper recently reported.
“It always made me very proud to play for my country. We celebrated together and sometimes even shed a tear together,” said Müller. He thanked “all the fans and all the members of the national team.” In the future, he will also keep his fingers crossed for the DFB team as a fan from the stands, said Müller.
Thomas Müller: Ten World Cup goals, no European Championship goals
Before his debut, Diego Maradona mistook him for a ball boy when he was the guest coach. A few months later, Müller sent Argentina and Maradona home with a goal in the World Cup quarter-finals in Cape Town in a 4-0 win. With five goals, the then 20-year-old became top scorer in South Africa. Four years later, Müller scored five more goals at the World Cup – his major contribution to the triumph in Brazil.
Curiously, Müller failed to score a goal at the European Championships. He took part in continental championships in 2012, 2016, 2021 and 2024. The Munich native no longer played a major role in the home tournament.
Thomas Müller makes fun of young DFB teammates
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Finally, “lubricant”
National coach Nagelsmann had described him as a “connector” and “lubricant” for the good atmosphere between younger and older players. He was only used as a joker in the opening game against Scotland (5:1) and in the big but ultimately useless fightback in the quarter-final against Spain (1:2 after extra time).
Müller’s time at the DFB after the early exit from the 2018 World Cup in Russia was an up and down. The then national coach Joachim Löw no longer considered him, Mats Hummels and Jérome Boateng in March 2019 – a decision that was hotly debated at the time. But Müller returned for the 2021 European Championship – without luck. In the European Championship round of 16 against England (0:2), he missed the big chance to equalize.
“Heart on the pitch”
Löw’s successor Hansi Flick initially also decided not to use Müller, but he was back at the 2022 World Cup. After another group stage exit in Qatar, Müller said in a TV interview: “It was an enormous pleasure, dear people. Thank you very much. We had incredible moments together. I tried to leave my heart on the pitch in every game.” At the time, this was interpreted as an announcement of his resignation. He had done everything “with love,” Müller assured. Nothing had changed in this regard at the home European Championships.
Note: This article has been updated to include additional information.
Source: Stern
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