Manuel Neuer's best games for the German national team

Manuel Neuer announced his retirement from international soccer, leaving behind a legacy of great performances for the German national team.

In the wake of Euro 2024, the German national team has lost several legendary players, including Toni Kroos, Ilkay Gundogan, and now, Manuel Neuer. The sweeper-keeper will no longer participate in international soccer and instead focus all his efforts on Bayern Munich.

Neuer earned 124 international caps over 15 years, and reached the pinnacle of soccer when he helped Germany win the 2014 World Cup. Now, as he says goodbye to international soccer, Barcelona captain, Marc-Andre ter Stegen will start between the posts for Germany ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Here's a breakdown of Neuer's best performances in a German shirt over the course of his illustrious career.

Manuel Neuer's best games for the German national team

4. Germany 4-1 England - 2010 World Cup

Germany might have defeated England 4-1 at the 2010 World Cup, but the game was much closer than the lopsided score suggests. Without Manuel Neuer's crucial saves, the result could have gone in the Three Lions' favor, especially if Frank Lampard's goal was not incorrectly disallowed.

Neuer had the breakout performance of his international career in the Round of 16 match. Before he needed to come up big between the posts, the German delivered a pinpoint goal kick over the England defense to Miroslav Klose for the game's opening goal. Neuer became the first keeper to register a World Cup assist since 1966.

He also held England to just one goal, making some of his best saves of the tournament as he went to ground to deny Lampard from three yards out and stopped a Steven Gerrard strike with his outstretched left hand.

3. Germany 1-1 Italy (6-5 pens) - Euro 2016

As the reigning World Cup champions, Germany entered Euro 2016 as one of the favorites to win the trophy, but they would have made a quarter-finals exit if not for Neuer's heroics to keep the game level throughout extra time before coming up huge in the penalty shootout.

The former captain had to pick up the slack of his teammates in the shootout after Thomas Muller, Mesut Ozil, and Bastian Schweinsteiger all failed to convert from the spot. Neuer went on to save Leonardo Bonucci's penalty and then Matteo Darmian's attempt to win the game, sending his side to the semi-finals.

2. Germany 1-0 Argentina - 2014 World Cup

In the biggest game of his international career, Neuer kept a clean sheet against Argentina in the 2014 World Cup final. Despite efforts from Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria, and Rodrigo Palacio, La Albiceleste could not find the quality they needed in the final third to beat the German keeper.

The shot-stopper was awarded the Golden Glove for his efforts in Germany's winning campaign, and would go on to be nominated for the Ballon d'Or.

1. Germany 2-1 Algeria - 2014 World Cup

Neuer's best game in a German shirt came against Algeria at the 2014 World Cup. The Bayern Munich man fully embodied the term "sweeper-keeper" in the Round of 16 match, leaving his line (and the box) to tackle streaking attackers, clear dangerous balls, and do whatever necessary to keep his side in the scoreless affair until extra time.

Algeria all-but dominated the future World Cup winning team in 90 minutes of regulation, and without their generational keeper, they surely would have been on the wrong side of a massive upset.