33-year-old Ilkay Gundogan has announced his retirement from the German national team

Official announcement: 33-year-old Ilkay Gundogan has announced his retirement from the German national team, ending his 13-year international career. He represented Germany in 82 matches, scoring 19 goals and providing 9 assists.

Gundogan's announcement of his retirement from the national team reads:

"Dear German fans,

After several weeks of reflection, I have decided that it is time to end my international career.

Looking back at the 82 international matches I played for the national team, I feel a great sense of pride—it's a number I could never have imagined when I first made my debut for the national team in 2011.

The highlight, of course, is the immense honor of leading the team as captain in the European Championship in our home country this summer! After so many years, we finally made our nation proud once again—and I am incredibly happy to have been a part of it.

However, even before the tournament, my body and mind felt a certain fatigue. The demands of club and international football have not decreased.

I will definitely remain a fan of this national team, and I sincerely hope this upward trend continues—so that nothing can stop us from becoming one of the strongest contenders for the 2026 World Cup. We have an excellent coach, a very strong team, and great team spirit.

Thank you to all the fans, staff, coaches, and teammates who have accompanied me on this journey.

It has been an honor!

Thank you, Germany!

Gundogan"