Neuer joins elite group of World Cup veterans

When Manuel Neuer stepped onto the Houston Stadium turf for Germany's FIFA World Cup 2026™ opener against Curaçao, he became just the ninth player to win the tournament and return to the finals 12 years later. The German goalkeeper, who had retired from international duty in 2024 but reversed his decision in May 2025, dazzled during the 2014 finals in Brazil as the Europeans won their fourth world crown. He then featured at Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, before playing the full 90 minutes in Germany's 7-1 win over Curaçao.

The eight players who preceded Neuer

Sergio Busquets (Spain)

Midfield icon Busquets was the last remaining player from Spain's maiden title success in 2010 to play at the finals, with the then-36-year-old turning out at Qatar 2022. He played all but 28 minutes of La Roja's 2010 campaign, dazzling with quick footwork and exceptional reading of the game from the base of midfield. In Qatar, Busquets was again a near ever-present in the Spanish ranks, but missed a penalty in the quarter-final shootout defeat to Morocco in Al Rayyan.

Thierry Henry (France)

Henry tasted World Cup glory with France on home soil in 1998, scoring three times as Les Bleus lifted the trophy for the first time with a 3-0 win over Brazil. He returned to the global stage in 2002 and 2006 before leading Raymond Domenech's side in South Africa 2010 as France crashed out at the group stage.

Cafu and Ronaldo (Brazil)

When Brazil secured their fourth World Cup in 1994, the likes of Romario, Bebeto, and Dunga were joined by two emerging stars: Cafu and a 17-year-old Ronaldo. Cafu played three times in the USA while Ronaldo was not used at all, but both starred in 1998 and 2002 as the South Americans reached three consecutive finals. Ronaldo, the adidas Golden Boot winner at Korea/Japan 2002, scored a brace in the final win over Germany. They returned for a last hurrah at Germany 2006, with Cafu captaining the side and Ronaldo leading the line, but were eliminated by France in the quarter-finals.

Franco Baresi and Daniele Massaro (Italy)

Italy took a stellar squad to Spain 1982, headlined by veteran goalkeeper Dino Zoff and master goalscorer Paolo Rossi. Among those established superstars were the fresh faces of Franco Baresi and Daniele Massaro. The Azzurri defeated Germany in the final, and the pair would enjoy trophy-laden careers with AC Milan thereafter before heading to USA 1994 as integral parts of another star-studded Italian side. However, their national careers ended poorly, as both missed penalties in the shootout—along with Roberto Baggio—on that fateful day in Pasadena.

Pelé (Brazil)

At Sweden 1958, the world witnessed its first glimpse of the supernatural teenager Edson Arantes do Nascimento—better known as Pelé. The 17-year-old helped Brazil to the Jules Rimet Trophy, becoming the first teenager to score in the final as his brace took the South Americans to a 5-2 win over Sweden. Brazil repeated the feat in 1962, but Pelé vowed never to play at the finals again after the Seleção fell in 1966, only to change his mind ahead of Mexico 1970 and return for a final swansong. There, he claimed his third and final World Cup to become the first, and still only, player to win the tournament three times—and 12 years apart.

William Martínez (Uruguay)

The club's founding member was William Martínez, a Uruguayan defender who won trophies aplenty in his homeland and took that golden touch to the national side at Brazil 1950. He may not have entered the field as La Celeste won their second World Cup, the first to be decided by a round-robin format, but he took part in Chile 1962 as the wise head of Juan Corazzo's squad, when the South Americans fell at the group stage.