Neuer comeback at the World Cup? Germany ramping up the discussion | OneFootball

The topic of Manuel Neuer and the national team is back on the agenda—and this time, it’s being discussed more seriously than just a few weeks ago.

According to BILD, DFB sporting director Rudi Völler has asked Neuer whether he could imagine returning to the German national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The background is the tense situation regarding the goalkeeper position: Marc-André ter Stegen is out for months due to a severe back injury, which has shaken up the hierarchy in the DFB goal.

The report also states that the comeback topic is being hotly debated within the team itself. The 39-year-old himself apparently does not categorically rule out a return. He wants to closely observe the situation until March 2026 before making a decision. For the DFB, a Neuer comeback would be a strong signal—after all, no other keeper has worn the national jersey more often than he has (124 senior international matches).

Neuer recently impressed with a gala performance in Bayern Munich’s Supercup victory over VfB Stuttgart. Immediately afterwards, he responded cautiously to Sat.1 questions about a possible DFB comeback: “No. I’m thinking about our team, about FC Bayern, and I’m always thinking about playing as well as possible, helping the team, and being successful.”

Matthäus speaks out in favor of Neuer

The discussion has long since gained momentum among experts. Record national player Lothar Matthäus explained in kicker: “Manu showed at the Club World Cup that he hasn’t lost any of his abilities. He and ter Stegen are our outstanding goalkeepers. The others are good, but that’s not enough to win the World Cup.”

If neither Neuer nor ter Stegen make it to the World Cup, Bernd Leno would be the best alternative according to Matthäus: “He has gained a lot of experience in the Premier League and is one of the best there.” But the dream of many fans remains the return of the Bayern captain, who could stabilize the national team with his experience, positioning, and presence.

The DFB camp will be closely monitoring how Neuer performs in Munich over the coming months. If he stays fit and consistently at the top level, what is now a vague idea could quickly become an even hotter topic.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.