• Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has called time on his international career

• He featured in 19 FIFA World Cup games for his country

• Germany and Neuer lifted the World Cup trophy at Brazil 2014

Manuel Neuer, one of the most outstanding goalkeepers of his generation, played a total of 124 times for Germany, a national record for his position, before recently bringing down the curtain on his glittering international career.

During his 15-year international career, the 38-year-old 2014 FIFA World Cup™ winner competed at four World Cups, making 19 appearances – with only France's Hugo Lloris (20) having played more matches in their position at the global tournament.

FIFA looks back at his career trajectory across the 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022 World Cups and picks out six games where he showed his worth to the watching world.

2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™

World Cup debut against Australia

After making his full international debut in June 2009, Neuer was initially the reserve goalkeeper behind Rene Adler, another exceptional German talent and the first choice of coach Joachim Low heading into the 2010 World Cup. However, when Adler suffered a broken rib a few weeks before the start of the tournament, Neuer, who had been performing strongly for Schalke 04, became Germany’s new No1. On his World Cup debut, the Gelsenkirchen native was called into action just a few minutes into his side’s opener against Australia. Together with Philipp Lahm, the pair blocked a close-range shot by Richard Garcia following a corner. After that, Neuer enjoyed a relatively quiet evening, with goals from Lukas Podolski, Miroslav Klose, Thomas Muller and Cacau securing a comfortable 4-0 win.

Memories of 1966 against England

In the Round of 16 against England, Neuer earned a World Cup assist when he set up Klose for the opener on 20 minutes. A dominant first half-hour by Low's side was duly rewarded as Podolski put Germany 2-0 up, before Matthew Upson reduced the deficit on 37 minutes. Less than a minute later, there was an unforgettable moment, when a shot by Frank Lampard beat Neuer, hit the underside of the bar, crossed the line, hit the bar again before dropping kindly for the keeper, with the referee waving play on. The incident evoked memories of Geoff Hurst’s legendary Wembley goal of 1966 – only this time with fortune favouring Germany. In the second half, a brace by Muller and a superlative late save by Neuer from Steven Gerrard ensured a 4-1 win and quarter-final berth for Low's men, who would end the tournament in third place.

2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™

Legendary performance against Algeria

Neuer's fine performances at South Africa 2010 and subsequent move to Bayern Munich meant he was Germany’s undisputed No1 by the time the 2014 World Cup came around. It was there, in the Round of 16 against underdogs Algeria, that Neuer gave his most memorable World Cup performance. On multiple occasions, he raced out to intercept balls against the inspired North Africans, earning the moniker Manu der libero (Manuel the libero). Over the years, he helped revolutionise goalkeeping and had a major influence on his profession with his sweeper-keeper approach. During that last-16 encounter, Neuer’s Algerian counterpart Rais M'Bolhi was equally impressive, leaving the game scoreless after 90 minutes. Goals from goals Andre Schurrle and Mesut Ozil, and a late consolation from Abdelmoumene Djabou, sealed a 2-1 extra-time win, due in no small part to one of the most epic goalkeeping performances in World Cup history.

Securing the title against Argentina

For the third time in the tournament’s history, after 1986 and 1990, Germany and Argentina would meet in a World Cup final. In a fiercely contested game that failed to produce a goal in regulation time, Neuer did what was asked of him. Compared to his previous fixtures, however, he was not called upon to make any brilliant saves. In the end, a Mario Gotze strike in extra-time saw Germany prevail 1-0 and lift the FIFA World Cup Trophy into the night sky at the Maracana for what was the highpoint of the keeper’s international career. In addition, Neuer got to celebrate winning the adidas Golden Glove – the award given to the tournament’s best goalkeeper.

2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™

Vital save against Sweden

When Bastian Schweinsteiger retired in 2016, Neuer was handed the captain’s armband and led his team out at Russia 2018. His participation in the tournament had been in doubt until just a few weeks before kick-off after a 2017 metatarsal fracture kept him out of the national team for more than six months. Again named in the starting XI after proving his fitness to Low, Neuer could do nothing to prevent a 1-0 opening defeat to Mexico. Germany also struggled in their second group game against Sweden, with Ola Toivonen putting the Scandinavians ahead on 32 minutes. Then shortly before half time, Neuer saved his team from going a potentially decisive two goals down with a superb save from Marcus Berg. Instead, Germany managed to turn things around after the break courtesy of Marco Reus' equaliser and Toni Kroos' unforgettable free-kick in injury time. Despite securing three vital points in what was Low’s 100th game in charge, the team then lost their third match against Korea Republic and made a shock first-round exit – the first time such a fate had befallen Germany at a World Cup.

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™

Final World Cup appearance against Costa Rica

Four years later, Germany were determined to make amends in Qatar under new coach Hansi Flick in what would be Neuer’s fourth World Cup and second as captain. Heading into the final group game against Costa Rica, the European side needed a win to keep their hopes alive of making the Round of 16 after defeat by Japan and a draw with Spain. What followed was possibly one the craziest of all Neuer's World Cup appearances. Over the course of a dramatic 90 minutes, the Group E table changed constantly. Goals from Kai Havertz (2), Serge Gnabry and Niclas Fullkrug saw Flick's team triumph 4-2 in a see-saw match, but Japan's victory over Spain in the section’s other game eliminated Germany from the group stage of a World Cup for the second consecutive edition, this time on goal difference. It was also the last of Neuer's 19 World Cup games. After the 2024 UEFA EURO on home soil, the 38-year-old brought an end to his long and successful career with the German national team.