Football: Sara Däbritz retires from Germany national team

With 111 appearances and 18 goals for her country, Sara Däbritz has announced her retirement from the international footballing stage at the age of 30. The midfielder won the European Championship in 2013 as well as the gold medal at the 2016 Olympics.

"If someone had told me all that when I was a little five-year-old girl – I would have hardly believed it. But that was exactly my biggest dream," she wrote in an Instagram post announcing the decision.

"From the first match to the last, I wore the jersey with pride, joy and humility. It was a great privilege to play for my country."

Däbritz made her debut for Germany in 2013, just before the European Championship. At the tournament, she appeared as a substitute in the group stage and quarterfinals, helping her country lift their eighth continental title.

Over the next 12 years, she would feature in every major competition for Germany, becoming a staple of an era that saw the rise in popularity of women's football both domestically and internationally.

For her, seeing that rise was a key part of her career.

"I saw both sides – from games with 2,000 spectators to sold out stadiums with a phenomenal atmosphere. I am unbelievably proud of this development. And I am especially excited for the next generation, that may follow this path and make excitement for German women's football even greater."

Despite her plans to no longer play for the national team, Däbritz has no plans to quit football anytime soon. Her next challenge will be with Real Madrid. She joined the Spanish side this summer after spells with Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain in France.

Däbritz follows in the footsteps of veteran forwards Alexandra Popp and Svenja Huth, as well as goalkeeper Merle Frohms, who have all called time on their Germany careers since the 2023 World Cup.

Edited by: Matthew Pearson