She’s an Olympic gold medallist, one of the best women’s footballers in the world and a role model to millions: after more than 14 years wearing the Germany jersey, VfL Wolfsburg’s Alexandra Popp has called time on her international career. For the long-time German captain, it all began in Duisburg on 17 February 2010, in a friendly against North Korea, and that is also where it will come to an end. Germany will host Australia in a friendly at the Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena on Monday 28 October, and for Popp, this will mark her 145th and final appearance for her country. The 33-year-old is still under contract with VfL Women until 30 June 2025.
“A lot of thought and plenty of tears”
“I have had the honour and good fortune to wear the Germany shirt with pride for the past 18 years, almost 14-and-a-half of them at senior level,” said Popp. “I’ve always said that I would have a gut feeling about retirement, and now I have. After giving it a lot of thought and shedding plenty of tears, it’s with a heavy heart that I’ve decided to call an end to my international career. The fire that started in my belly 18 years ago and which got stronger year on year has now almost burnt out. It was always important for me to be able to come to this decision myself, based on how I was feeling. I didn’t want my body, which is a ticking time bomb, or somebody else to get there first. Before the fire totally goes out – which would have meant that I’d left it too late – I think the time has now come,” explained the 33-year-old on Monday in announcing her retirement from the national team.
Two Olympic medals
Popp played at four World Cups, two of them – in 2019 in France and 2023 in Australia and New Zealand – as captain of Germany’s women. Her trophy cabinet includes winner’s medals from the 2012, 2014 and 2020 Algarve Cups and a runner-up medal from EURO 2022 in England, where she once again captained the side. The highlight of Popp’s career came at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, where Germany defeated Sweden 2-1 at the Maracana to secure the gold medal. A bronze medal at the recent Paris Olympics provided the successful conclusion to her time with Germany, which saw her score 67 goals for her country, putting her behind only Heidi Mohr and Birgit Prinz. She was voted Women’s National Team Player of the Year in 2012 and 2022, and Germany’s Women’s Footballer of the Year in 2014, 2016 and 2023.
