Manuel Neuer Becomes Oldest German Player in World Cup History, Nears Clean Sheet Record

Kathmandu. Much of the attention in the FIFA World Cup 2026 is not only on the players' performance but also on the new records they will set.

In this regard, German veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has made a historic comeback to the team by returning from retirement, becoming a major attraction of the World Cup. 

Leading the German team at the age of 40, Neuer is the most experienced veteran player in this competition. He is known in world football for his excellent saves in goal and his famous sweeper-keeper style of playing forward on the field.

With his appearance on the field in this World Cup, Neuer will set a new record in German football history. He will surpass Lothar Matthäus and Jens Lehmann to become the oldest player in German World Cup history. 

Moreover, he is close to setting a new record for the most clean sheets in World Cup matches. Having kept 7 clean sheets in the World Cup, Neuer is aiming to break the all-time record of 8 clean sheets held by Sepp Maier of Germany. Additionally, with 61 saves, he is in the top 5 players with the most saves in World Cup history. He aims to break the all-time record of 68 saves by Dino Zoff of Italy.

Neuer, a key pillar of the 2014 World Cup-winning team, has played 124 matches for Germany, which highlights his long and consistent football journey. Despite his increasing age, his performance has not declined. 

He had set the best record in the German Bundesliga by conceding only 0.97 goals per 90 minutes while captaining Bayern Munich. Due to his high ability to assess game situations on the field and his skill in excellently handling the pressure of one-on-one situations with opposing players, Neuer is Germany's biggest hope in this World Cup.