2014 World Cup winner Thomas Müller has ended his distinguished international career following the conclusion of Euro 2024, hosted in his home country of Germany.
The 34-year-old forward, who has been a vital player for the three-time European champions over the past 14 years, announced his retirement from international football on Monday.
“It always made me very proud to play for my country. We celebrated together and sometimes shed a tear together,” said Muller in a farewell video on YouTube.
“When I had the privilege of making my first international appearance over 14 years ago, I would never have dreamed of all this. I would like to say thank you to all the fans and my Germany teammates for their support over the years. Take the enthusiasm and joy of this year’s Euros with you.”
Müller made his debut for the German national team on March 3, 2010, in a 1-0 defeat to Argentina.
He participated in four World Cups and four European Championships with the team. At the 2010 World Cup, Müller scored five goals and provided three assists, earning the Golden Boot as the tournament’s top scorer and being named the best young player.
Four years later, he helped Germany become world champions in Brazil, contributing five goals to their victorious campaign.
Despite his significant contributions, Germany struggled to maintain their previous success in subsequent tournaments.
Müller’s final appearance was at Euro 2024, where Germany was eliminated in the quarterfinals by eventual champions Spain.
Müller amassed a total of 131 international appearances for Germany, ranking him third in the country’s history behind Lothar Matthäus (150) and Miroslav Klose.
With 45 goals for the national team, the Bayern Munich forward ranks seventh on Germany’s all-time scoring list.
As Müller retires from international football, his legacy as one of the greatest players in German football history is assured.
