“Football is my life”
Melanie Leupolz ends her career
Updated on June 13th, 2025 – 10:29 a.m.Reading time: 2 min.
She was allowed to celebrate great success and was also active for the national team. Now Melanie Leupolz ends her active career.
She played for SC Freiburg, FC Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Real Madrid. But in summer it ends: Melanie Leupolz ends her career. The 31-year-old announced this on Instagram. In a video she explains: “Dear football fans. After many emotional and intensive years in football, I made the difficult decision to step down in summer.”
Leupolz underlay her words with videos and pictures from previous years. “Football is my life, as long as I can remember. I fell in love with the sport as a little girl and he became my passion,” she continues.
She had the privilege of “playing at the highest level for many years, winning titles and getting to know incredible people”. Leupolz ends her contribution with the words: “Thanks to everyone who was part of this trip. Thank you, football.”
Numerous sizes commented on the post under the video of Leupolz. The former international and trainer Melanie Behringer wrote: “You can be proud of your great career, dear Melly!” Signe Bruun, who is under contract with Real, also wrote: “Great player, great person.”
Leupolz ‘training association, SC Freiburg, commented on the step with the words: “You can be proud of yourself!” DFB captain Giulia Gwinn marked the post with “I like”. Former international Dzsenifer Marozsán also said: “Congratulations Melly for your great career. You can be really proud of yourself.”
Born in Allgäu, she had started her professional career at SC Freiburg and spent six years at FC Bayern between 2014 and 2020, with which she became German champion in 2015 and 2016. Between 2021 and 2024 she also became English champion with Chelsea FC between 2021 and 2024.
Leupolz ran for the German national team in 79 games, won the European championship title in 2013 and 2016 Olympic gold. Before her resignation last September, Leutolz had made headlines at the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand as a mother in competitive sports because she had her young child with her at the tournament.