That’s a wrap for this summer’s major tournaments as Euro 2024 and the Copa America came to an end last weekend.
The full-time whistle on those tournaments also brought the curtain down on some memorable international careers, with several stars calling it quits after one last summer on the big stage.
Five top players who will retire after Euro 2024 and the Copa America:
Thomas Muller – Germany
Thomas Muller’s incredible career with the German national team ended with the host nation’s quarter-final defeat at Euro 2024. Muller joins fellow Die Mannschaft icon Toni Kroos in leaving the German team for good, though unlike Kroos will continue his club career after inking a new deal with Bayern Munich until 2025.
Muller made his international debut ahead of the 2010 World Cup and burst onto the scene in South Africa. He scored five times to win the tournament’s Best Young Player and Golden Boot, announcing his arrival on the world stage.
He added another five goals as Germany won the World Cup in 2014 and only three Germans, Miroslav Klose, Gerd Muller and Jurgen Klinsmann, have scored more goals for the national team on that stage.
Only Lothar Mathhus and Klose have worn Germany colours more times than Muller, who ends his international career with 45 goals in 131 caps.
Time to say goodbye.
Servus ????❤️????
➡️https://t.co/bBHJLd5U9f#ServusDFBteam #esmuellert #dfbteam #Euro2024 #Nationalmannschaft???????? pic.twitter.com/xGda1CF4ZN— Thomas Müller (@esmuellert_) July 15, 2024
Read – Five Premier League players whose stock rose at Euro 2024
Angel Di Maria – Argentina
Lionel Messi might be the headline act of Argentine’s recent success but Angel Di Maria has certainly led the supporting cast.
Di Maria has bowed out for La Albiceleste after winning the Copa America this summer, a second continental triumph for the winger to add to his 2022 World Cup and Finalissima wins.
After a series of near misses with the national team, Di Maria has been an experienced driving force of the Lionel Scaloni successes. He scored the only goal of the game to beat Brazil 1-0 and win the Copa America in 2021, a first trophy in 28 years for Argentina.
Another goal in the Finalissma win over Italy followed, before netting again as France were beaten in the World Cup final. Third for Argentina appearances, Di Maria departs as an icon.
Ángel Di María: "They say that my father was an even better footballer than me, but he broke his knees when he was young, and his dream died.
They say that my grandfather was even better than him, but he lost both of his legs in a train accident, and his dream died.
My dream… pic.twitter.com/qLXoIkma47
— Players' Tribune Football (@TPTFootball) July 15, 2024
Read – Copa America team of the tournament for 2024
Olivier Giroud – France
France’s record scorer has called time on his career with Les Bleus after reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2024.
Giroud has been an under-appreciated talent for much of his career but found respect during Didier Deschamps’ reign with the national team. He scored 57 goals in 137 caps, surpassing Thierry Henry’s national record, and won both the 2018 World Cup and 2021 UEFA Nations League titles.
At 37, he walks away from France as he prepares to embark on a new chapter in Major League Soccer, with Los Angeles FC.
Ma vie en Bleu ????????♥️???????? #FierdetreBleu pic.twitter.com/VHAxksO3fl
— Olivier Giroud (@_OlivierGiroud_) July 15, 2024
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Jesus Navas – Spain
No player has won as much as him in a Spain jersey – two Euros, a World Cup and the Uefa Nations League
It is a remarkable achievement when you consider Navas has never been one of the star players for either Barcelona or Real Madrid. The winger’s longevity saw his international career span 15 years, while Navas twice bounced back from international exile to return for La Roja.
He went almost six years without a cap before returning to the national team in 2019, before another three-year break between caps ended in 2023. He is the oldest player to have represented Spain, winning Euro 2024 with the national team at the age of 38.
Campeones, qué felicidad. Qué orgullo más grande y qué alegría más inmensa@SEFutbol pic.twitter.com/EtcoSp7NGx
— Jesús Navas (@JNavas) July 15, 2024
Read – Premier League dominates Euro 2024 team of the tournament
Xherdan Shaqiri – Switzerland
Xherdan Shaqiri has sprinkled star-dust on the Switzerland side for more than a decade but the 32-year-old has ended his international career after Euro 2024.
Shaqiri featured as Switzerland reached the quarter-finals and became the only player to have scored at all of the last three European Championships and the last three World Cups this summer.
The Chicago Fire winger leaves the national team with a record of 32 goals from 125 caps. Only Granit Xhaka has appeared more times for Switzerland.
Sieben Turniere, viele Tore, 14 Jahre Schweizer A-Nationalmannschaft und unvergessliche Momente. Es ist Zeit, mich von der Nati zu verabschieden. Tolle Erinnerungen bleiben und dafür sage ich euch allen: DANKE, MERCI, GRAZIE, FALEMINDERIT. ????????❤️… pic.twitter.com/qT9OoQK79x
— Xherdan Shaqiri (@XS_11official) July 15, 2024
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