Antonio Rüdiger has confirmed that he has retired from international football with immediate effect.
The Real Madrid defender made the announcement on social media confirming his decision and thanking those that had been involved in his international career.
“After giving it some thought, the time has come for me to bring my international career to a close and make way for the younger generation,” explained Rüdiger.
“When I first pulled on the DFB shirt in 2014, I could never have imagined in my wildest dreams that I would end up playing 86 international matches.”
Rüdiger made his Germany debut in May 2014 in a 0-0 draw with Poland. He went on to make 86 appearances, scoring three goals and represented Die Mannschaft in three FIFA World Cups and two European Championships. That included the 2024 competition in Germany, where the hosts made it to the quarter-final.
