Ilkay Gundogan Says Auf Wiedersehen to Germany's National Team 🇩🇪👋
It's the end of an era! Ilkay Gundogan, the midfield maestro we've all admired, has decided to hang up his international boots. 😢⚽️
In a heartfelt message to fans, he shared, \"After a few weeks of consideration, I have come to the conclusion that it is time to end my national team career.\"
From his debut in 2011 to captaining the squad, Gundogan's journey with Germany has been nothing short of legendary. \"I look back with great pride on 82 international matches for my home country – a number I could never have dreamed of,\" he reminisced. 🌟
Remember the UEFA European Championship last summer? Gundogan led the team as captain, and although they bowed out in the quarterfinals to Spain, he recalls, \"My highlight was definitely the huge honor of being able to lead the team as captain at our home European Championship! After all these years, we finally managed to make the nation proud again – I'm very happy that I was able to play a part in that.\" 🎖️🇩🇪
But even the best need a break. \"I felt a certain tiredness in my body and also in my head… And the number of games at club and national level is not coming down,\" he admitted. We get it, Ilkay – self-care is key! 💆♂️✨
He leaves with optimism for the team's future: \"We have a fantastic coach, a really strong squad and a great team spirit… there's nothing to stop us from being one of the prime contenders for the title at the 2026 World Cup.\" 🌍🏆
Since joining Barcelona in July 2023, Gundogan's been on fire, scoring five goals and racking up 14 assists this season. But with some behind-the-scenes club issues, we're all wondering – what's next for this football superstar? 🤔🔥
One thing's for sure, though: Gundogan's impact on the game and his fans is undeniable. Danke für alles, Ilkay! We'll be cheering you on wherever you go. 👏❤️
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
