News (engl.)

After many successful years playing for the Germany women’s national side, Sara Däbritz has announced that she will be taking a step back from international football. The 30-year-old made her debut in 2013, and since then has played 111 times, scoring 18 goals. Her major achievements with the national side include winning the 2013 EUROs in Sweden, as well as being crowned an Olympic gold medallist in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. Her club career has seen her play for SC Freiburg, FC Bayern München, Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyon. This summer, she earned a move to Real Madrid.

In Sara’s own words: “I look back with a lot of gratitude on a wonderful international career that will always have a place in my heart. From my first game right through to the last, I always wore the shirt with pride, joy and humility. It’s been a great privilege to represent my country. I’ve seen it all – from playing in front of just 2,000 people to then walking out into the incredible atmosphere of sold-out stadiums. I’m so proud of how far things have come and I’m especially excited for the next generation, who can continue with the work we’ve already done and further increase the support for women’s football in Germany.”

“Having played in the national side for 12 years, now is the right time to say goodbye. It feels like the right thing for me. I thank everyone who has supported me along my journey: the coaches and training staff I’ve played under, as well as my teammates, who I have shared so many unforgettable moments with. You are amazing. From the bottom of my heart: Thank you!”

“Sara has enriched all of us”

DFB vice-president Sabine Mammitzsch said: “I’ve known Sara a long time and have followed her sporting career from the very beginning. Her humility, genuineness, her sociable nature, her humour and her outstanding skills as a footballer make her unique. She’s enriched all of us. She has played an important and influential role in women's football for years as one of its top players, and is now showing off more of what she can do at Real Madrid. I wish her all the best for the rest of her career – we’re really going to miss her in the national side.”

DFB sporting director Nia Künzer said: “Sara can be very proud of an impressive career with a national team on which she really made her mark. She began in the youth set up, where she was very successful, before earning her place in the first team and, as a young player, winning the EUROs title in 2013. She is someone that other players can look up to—a true role model, a wonderful person, and an exceptional player. Sara has achieved fantastic success while remaining humble and down-to-earth. At every stage of her career, Sara has put the team before herself. I wish her all the best for the future and look forward to seeing her play at the highest level with a top team like Real Madrid for years to come.”

National team head coach Christian Wück said: “Sara was a constant presence in the Germany midfield for many years. With her remarkable intelligence, composure on the ball and overall footballing quality, she has really influenced the journey the national side has been on in the past few years. She is a real leader, not just on the pitch, but off it as well: her attitude, experience and selflessness meant she always led by example and put the team first. She is a role model and someone that younger players could always look up to. The success she has had with the national side speaks for itself. She can look back on her international career with a lot of pride. From the bottom of my heart I wish her all the best with Real Madrid.”

An Olympic gold medallist at Rio 2016

Sara Däbritz’s career with the national side began in 2010 with her first appearance for the U15s against the Netherlands. She quickly rose through the ranks. The highlights of her youth career came in 2012 and 2014, as she celebrated winning the U17-EUROs as captain of the Germany side before being crowned as U20 World Cup champion two years later in Canada.

Before winning her second youth title, Däbritz found success with the senior side. Her first appearance for the national team came on 29th June, 2013 in the Allianz Arena in Munich against Japan, setting up what would be a long and illustrious career in the senior side. She featured in three World Cups (2015, 2019, 2023) and four EUROs (2013, 2017, 2022, 2025), and was crowned as a European Champion in 2013, as well as an Olympic gold medallist in 2016. She made her final appearance for the national side against Spain in the semi-final of the 2025 EUROs.