The 2026 World Cup was not only the end of a global tournament, but also a farewell for a generation of football's biggest stars, as 11 players from different national teams announced their retirement from international football after the curtain fell on the competition.

Leading the list, according to the British newspaper The Guardian, was German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, the 2014 World Cup winner, who played his last international match after Germany's elimination by Paraguay on penalties. Neuer had reversed a previous decision to retire in order to play in the 2026 World Cup, but then confirmed that his journey with the national team ended without any regret.

Patrick Schick (Reuters)

In the Czech Republic, striker Patrick Schick did not wait long after the group stage exit, announcing that his career with the national team had ended, concluding a journey that spanned years with his country's side.

Guillermo Ochoa (AP)

Mexico bid farewell to one of its greatest goalkeepers in history, Guillermo Ochoa, who received a special send-off in his final participation, ending a career associated with his brilliance in several World Cup editions, especially the 2014 Brazil World Cup.

Riyad Mahrez (AFP)

The tournament also saw the curtain fall on the international career of Algeria's captain Riyad Mahrez, who scored two goals in the tournament before his country's exit, affirming that representing Algeria was always a source of pride for him. Meanwhile, Ecuador's captain Enner Valencia announced that the match against Mexico was his last for his national team, ending his run as Ecuador's all-time top scorer.

Nicolás Otamendi (AP)

In Argentina, defender Nicolás Otamendi ended a storied career that began at the 2010 World Cup and was crowned by winning the World Cup in Qatar 2022, before bidding farewell to the national team after his final participation in North America.

Marko Arnautović (AFP)

Austrian striker Marko Arnautović also chose to end his international career after his first World Cup appearance, describing the national team as his 'second family'.

Sadio Mané (DPA)

Senegalese Sadio Mané joined the list of retirees, putting an end to a career during which he was one of the most prominent symbols of Senegalese football in the last decade.

Craig Gordon (DPA)

The list also included Scottish goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who ended an international career that began in 2004, and Ivory Coast midfielder Jean-Michel Seri, who announced the end of his journey after 11 years with his national team.

Neymar (AFP)

The finale came with Brazilian star Neymar, who closed the chapter on his journey with the Seleção after Brazil's elimination by Norway.

He said his international career ended at MetLife Stadium, the same venue that witnessed one of his early appearances with the national team, thus ending the journey of one of the most prominent players of his generation, and with it the curtain falls on an entire era of international football stars.