Real Madrid News
Confirmed: Antonio Rudiger announces retirement from international football
Minutes after reports emerged claiming that Real Madrid star Antonio Rudiger had decided to retire from international football, the German defender has made it official and announced that he has brought his time with the national team to an end.
The 33-year-old veteran star confirmed the same with an emotional post on his social media, in which he explained the reasoning behind his decision to move on from Die Mannschaft.
Rudiger says goodbye to German NT
Kicking things off, Rudiger mentioned that after much deliberation following the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer, he felt that it was the right time for him to hang up his national team boots to make way for the new generation.
“After giving it some thought, the time has come for me to bring my career with the national team to a close and make way for the younger generation,” he wrote.
Looking back at his journey with the national team, Rudiger elaborated: “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.
“Even though we didn’t win any major titles in recent tournaments and had to endure some painful defeats, this period has been an extremely special chapter for me, one that will shape me forever.”
Grateful to everyone
Rudiger then expressed his gratitude towards everyone who had been a part of his journey with the German national team, writing:
A huge thank you goes to:
“My team-mates: For every tackle we contested together and the camaraderie in the dressing room and at our accommodation – and above all for the friendships that will last far beyond football.
“The entire coaching and support staff: thank you for your trust over the years and for all your work behind the scenes.”
Contiuing, he added: “A special thank you goes to Jogi Löw, Hansi Flick and Julian Nagelsmann, who have accompanied and shaped me on my journey with the DFB. And also to my mentor in the youth national team, Horst Hrubesch.
“And, of course, to you, the fans: thank you for your support – especially for the unique atmosphere at our home European Championship in 2024.”
Concluding, Rudiger wrote: “A new chapter is now beginning for me, one in which I will focus entirely on my club. Thank you for the journey we’ve shared.”
Rudiger steps away from Germany after 12 years with the national team in which he made 86 appearances and won the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2017.
Real Madrid’s adventure so far under new coach Jose Mourinho has been far from perfect and this fact shouldn’t be lost even after the team’s brilliant comeback win over AS Roma in midweek.
However, there are areas where Los Blancos have shown a clear improvement under Mourinho, when compared to previous bosses such as Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa.
One of those areas has been set plays, with Real Madrid appearing far more potent from set pieces this season.
A clear improvement from last season
As reported by Diario AS, the three goals in Rome, all from Arda Guler corners inside a seven-minute blitz, were the perfect advert for the work being done at Valdebebas.
Those strikes took Real Madrid’s set-piece tally to seven goals in just ten matches this season. Four of them have come in La Liga, one from a corner and three from free kicks, with the trio in Rome completing the haul.
It is a striking figure when set against last season’s return. Under Alonso and Arbeloa, Madrid managed 12 set-piece goals across the entire campaign, all in La Liga, split evenly between six from corners and six from free kicks.
On current trends, this side looks well placed to surpass that number comfortably.
The reason behind Real Madrid’s improvement
Attacking set pieces are led at Valdebebas by Pedro Machado, with the whole coaching staff involved and Mourinho himself giving the final green light on every routine.
Defending them, meanwhile, falls to Sami Khedira, though it is treated as a collective effort. Mourinho’s appreciation of that teamwork was clear when Bellingham headed in a Guler free kick against Espanyol, prompting the manager to leap up and embrace his assistants.
Machado, one of Mourinho’s most trusted lieutenants, has followed him from Fenerbahce to Benfica and now Madrid, part of a backroom team blending experience with young, ambitious talent.
On the pitch, Guler is the undisputed master when available, his left foot the key weapon, with Bernardo Silva, Trent Alexander-Arnold and even Diomande also trusted to initiate attacks.
Such meticulous strategy has helped Real Madrid turn into a potent side from set-pieces this season.
