Manuel Neuer Makes History in FIFA World Cup 2026 Match Against Curaçao
Neuer's Historic Return
Manuel Neuer etched his name in history by being included in Germany's starting lineup for their FIFA World Cup 2026 match against Curaçao at the NRG Stadium in Houston on June 24. This game marked the 40-year-old goalkeeper's comeback to the national squad after a two-year break, during which he had initially announced his retirement following the 2024 Euros, only to reverse that decision last month.
Although Neuer was unable to secure a clean sheet, as the World Cup newcomers scored in the first half with Livano Comenencia netting in the 21st minute, Germany kicked off their campaign in style, achieving a resounding 7-1 victory. Goals came from Felix Nmecha (6'), Nico Schlotterbeck (38'), Kai Havertz (45+5' P, 88'), Jamal Musiala (47'), Nathaniel Brown (68'), and Deniz Undav (78').
Milestone Achievements for Neuer
Neuer's Historic Milestone
This match marked the fifth edition of the FIFA World Cup in which Neuer has participated, following his appearances in 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022. He is now only the second goalkeeper in the history of the tournament to play in five different editions, joining Mexico's Antonio Cabarjal, who achieved this feat 60 years ago.
Goalkeepers with Most World Cup Appearances
| Player | World Cups Played | Years |
| Antonio Cabarjal (Mexico) | 5 | 1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966 |
| Manuel Neuer (Germany) | 5 | 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026 |
| Gianluigi Buffon (Italy) | 4 | 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 |
| Iker Casillas (Spain) | 4 | 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 |
| Andoni Zubizarreta (Spain) | 4 | 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998 |
It's noteworthy that Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa has been selected for the national team for the sixth time, tying the record with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. However, he has only played in three tournaments (2014, 2018, 2022) as he was benched in 2006 and 2010 and did not feature in Mexico's opening match this year. Similarly, Gianluigi Buffon was named in five squads but played in only four tournaments.
Today's match was Neuer's 20th appearance in FIFA World Cup history, surpassing any other goalkeeper. He matched the record set by Hugo Lloris, the captain of France's 2018 World Cup-winning team.
Most Matches Played by a Goalkeeper in FIFA World Cup History
| Player | Matches Played |
| Hugo Lloris (France) | 20 |
| Manuel Neuer (Germany) | 20 |
| Sepp Maier (West Germany) | 18 |
| Claudio Taffarel (Brazil) | 18 |
Neuer is also in pursuit of the record for the most clean sheets in FIFA World Cup history. Currently, he has achieved seven clean sheets, placing him joint-eighth historically. The record is held by Fabien Barthez and Peter Shilton, each with ten clean sheets. Neuer needs to secure three more clean sheets to tie the record and four to claim it outright.