Manuel Neuer is my number 1 goalkeeper for Germany- Julian Naggelsmann

Manuel Neuer has ended his brief international retirement and been named Germany’s starting goalkeeper for the World Cup after head coach Julian Nagelsmann confirmed the veteran between the posts on Thursday. Nagelsmann, who had long signalled Hoffenheim’s Oliver Baumann as his first choice, said the coaching staff had “nominated the best three keepers” and contacted Neuer to ask if he wanted to return — a request the 40‑year‑old accepted. Neuer’s decision hands Germany a familiar leader in goal as the squad prepares for a tournament that carries heavy expectations.

The move is as much about leadership as it is about shot‑stopping. Neuer, a 2014 World Cup winner who last represented Germany at Euro 2024 before stepping away from international duty, brings experience and calm to a defence that will benefit from his organisational voice. Nagelsmann was clear: “Yes, I plan with [Neuer as No 1].” Teammates and staff, the coach added, value the veteran’s presence in training and the dressing room, where his authority and reading of the game have long been assets.

Nagelsmann’s final 26‑man squad contained few other surprises. Bayern teenager Lennart Karl earned a call‑up after a breakthrough season, while Nadiem Amiri and Leroy Sané also made the cut. Notable absentees included Niclas Füllkrug, Karim Adeyemi and Kevin Schade. Neuer’s return comes at a time when Bayern are chasing domestic honours — the goalkeeper enjoyed a solid season and signed a contract extension last week — and the timing of his comeback underlines both his personal desire to finish on a high and the federation’s appetite for proven reliability.

Germany has been drawn in Group E alongside Curacao, Ecuador and the Ivory Coast, and Nagelsmann did not hide the ambition behind his selections. “We want to become world champions,” he said, stressing that every player must now prove their worth daily. Neuer’s inclusion tightens the short‑term picture for emerging keepers, but it also gives Germany a clear, experienced option in a position where composure often decides tight World Cup moments.

As preparations intensify, Neuer’s U‑turn will shape both tactics and morale. For supporters, it is a familiar face returning at a crucial moment; for younger squad members, it is an opportunity to learn from one of the game’s most influential goalkeepers. Whether that blend of experience and youth will deliver the long‑awaited fifth title remains the central question as Germany heads to the tournament.