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German football icons Lothar Matthaus and Roman Weidenfeller have publicly supported Julian Nagelsmann’s surprise decision to reinstate Manuel Neuer as the national team’s first-choice goalkeeper for the 2026 World Cup. The Bayern Munich stalwart has come out of international retirement to once again lead Die Mannschaft in North America, taking the place of Hoffenheim’s Oliver Baumann.

Matthaus applauds Nagelsmann’s reversal

Matthaus has welcomed Neuer’s return to the international fold, believing that the 40-year-old’s experience and quality will significantly enhance Germany’s World Cup chances. Neuer, who has accumulated 124 international caps and featured in four World Cups, decided to end his post-Euro 2024 retirement to aid the national side. Following a season filled with speculation about his comeback due to Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s injury issues, Nagelsmann confirmed this week that Neuer had officially agreed to return and will occupy the number one spot at the tournament.

“I’m pleased that Julian has changed his mind again, and so is Manuel Neuer,” Matthaus told Sky Sport. “It’s not only about Julian Nagelsmann not wanting to depend on Manuel Neuer earlier, but also about Manuel having retired two years ago – and now he’s back. We in Germany are delighted that the best goalkeeper in the country will strengthen our team at this World Cup, even though Oliver Baumann had been performing well until now. He did well in qualifiers and represented the national team admirably, but Manuel Neuer is exceptional. For me, Julian Nagelsmann made the right call by convincing Manuel to return.”

Dortmund great calls Neuer ‘the best’

Backing for Neuer has also come from the other side of the Klassiker rivalry, with Borussia Dortmund legend Roman Weidenfeller supporting his former 2014 World Cup-winning teammate. Despite the long-standing competition between the two clubs, Weidenfeller was unequivocal in his belief that Neuer remains the finest option for Germany. His argument is supported by Neuer’s strong club form this season, where he made 37 appearances across all competitions for Bayern, registering 11 clean sheets while leading them to the Bundesliga crown and the Champions League semi-finals.

“Absolutely, because he’s still the best German goalkeeper in the Bundesliga,” Weidenfeller stated. “His numbers are still elite – especially in crucial situations – and everyone knows we can rely on Manuel when it matters most.”

Setback for Oliver Baumann

The call to reinstate Neuer as the primary goalkeeper comes as a major disappointment for Oliver Baumann. The Hoffenheim shot-stopper had been viewed as the frontrunner for the position amid uncertainty around Ter Stegen over the past year, but he now returns to a backup role ahead of the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Nagelsmann has acknowledged that it was a tough decision, admitting that it was a significant blow for the 35-year-old keeper.

Despite the demotion, Nagelsmann praised Baumann’s professionalism, describing the Hoffenheim veteran as a “world-class” alternative and confirming that internal discussions on the matter have concluded. The manager emphasised that Neuer’s “aura” and leadership qualities will be crucial for a squad that has endured recent struggles on the international stage.

Mounting World Cup expectations

With Germany having suffered two consecutive group-stage exits at the World Cup, the pressure on Nagelsmann to guide the team to a deep run in North America is immense. Bringing back a legendary figure like Neuer is widely viewed as a move to strengthen both experience and leadership within the squad.

“And perhaps not only Julian Nagelsmann, but also his Bayern Munich teammates who will be at the World Cup, and maybe even [DFB director] Rudi Völler, persuaded him. They all wanted to make sure he would be there this time,” Matthaus concluded. “Especially after the World Cups in recent years – Italy missing qualification, Germany going out in the group stage twice – we need to do better this time around. At this tournament, we have to correct the mistakes from the last two editions.”