In the 125th international match
©IMAGO
With his appearance in the opening game of the 2026 World Cup for the German national team, Manuel Neuer not only becomes the oldest DFB professional in history, but also jumps into the top 10 of the oldest World Cup players. The game against Curaçao is the 125th international match for the 40-year-old goalkeeper – only four players wore the jersey with the eagle more often.
Neuer, who made his first appearance for Germany in June 2009, replaces Lothar Matthäus as the oldest national player. The 1990 World Cup captain was on the pitch for the German team for the last time in the 3-0 defeat against Portugal at the 2000 European Championship. At his 150th international match, the record national player was 39 years, two months and 30 days old. Neuer is almost a year older and is making his comeback in the DFB uniform after losing to Spain at the 2024 European Championship. The oldest German at a World Cup was Fritz Walter in 1958 in the 3-1 defeat against Sweden at 37 years, seven months and 24 days.
At 40 years, two months and 18 days, the FC Bayern goalkeeper also climbs into the top 10 of the oldest World Cup players in history and is in seventh place. As the tournament progresses, Schalke striker Edin Dzeko for Bosnia-Herzegovina, who is ten days older than Neuer, and Cristiano Ronaldo (41) could overtake him. Along with Cameroon’s Roger Milla, they would be the only over-40 field players at a World Cup. The oldest World Cup player to date is Essam El Hadary, who guarded Egypt’s goal in 2018 at the age of 45.