Ilkay Gundogan has announced his retirement from international football, marking a significant summer of decisions for the Barcelona midfielder.
The announcement follows a challenging European Championship for Germany, where the team, led by Gundogan, was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Spain, the eventual champions, in a home tournament.
Gundogan, who captained Germany throughout the competition, has decided to end his tenure with the national team after much reflection.
In a heartfelt message on X, he shared his decision, stating, “Dear Football Germany, after a few weeks of consideration, I have come to the conclusion that it is time to end my national team career.”
He reminisced about his career with Germany, expressing pride in his 82 appearances and his role as captain during the European Championships:
“I look back with great pride on 82 international matches for my home country—a number I could never have dreamed of when I made my debut for the senior national team in 2011.”
Gundogan highlighted the honor of leading Germany during the tournament, noting, “My highlight was definitely the huge honour of being able to lead the team as captain at our home European Championships last summer! After all these years, we finally managed to make the nation proud again, and I’m very happy that I was able to play a part in that.”
Despite his pride, Gundogan noted a sense of fatigue, “But even before the tournament, I felt a certain tiredness in my body and also in my head, which got me thinking. And the games at club and national level are not getting any less.”
He expressed continued support for the national team, wishing them success in future competitions, “I will definitely continue to be a fan of this national team and I really hope that we can continue the upward trend together, and then there is nothing to stop us from being one of the closest contenders for the title at the 2026 World Cup. We have a fantastic coach, a really strong team and a great team spirit.”
Gundogan concluded his farewell with gratitude, saying, “Thanks to all the fans, staff, coaches and teammates who have accompanied me on this journey. It was an honour! Thank you, Germany! Your Ilkay.”
At 33, Gundogan leaves behind a notable international career, having debuted in October 2011 and amassed 82 caps and 19 goals.
Although he did not win a major tournament with the senior team—missing out on the 2014 World Cup due to injury—his contributions were significant.
This summer is pivotal for Gundogan, as he faces not only the end of his international career but also a decision about his club future.
Barcelona, facing financial fair play issues, is set to part ways with him, and he has been linked with a return to Manchester City.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the English champions are considering re-signing their former captain, indicating a possible reunion.
