Olympic gold medalist and longtime German national team player Sara Däbritz has announced her retirement from international football, ending a distinguished career with the Deutsche Fußball Bund (DFB). The 29-year-old midfielder confirmed her decision today, bringing to a close more then a decade of service to her country.
Däbritz’s departure marks the end of an era for the german women’s national team, where she was a defining figure for years, both through her athletic prowess and leadership qualities. Beyond her sporting achievements,she consistently demonstrated a strong character,experience,and team-first mentality,serving as a role model for younger players. “Her footballing qualities have shaped the face of the team for years,” the DFB stated.”Not only in sport, but also as a person, she was a leader: with her attitude, experience and team orientation, she always led the way and always put herself at the service of the team.”
The Freiburg native earned 88 caps for Germany, culminating in a gold medal at the 2016 rio Olympics. She also represented her country at the 2019 and 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cups, as well as the 2022 UEFA Women’s European Championship. Däbritz previously played for Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain before returning to the Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt.
Earlier this spring, Däbritz married her longtime partner, Lukas, a former regional league footballer, adopting his surname. The couple will now have more time together following her national team retirement. the DFB has not yet announced any plans for a farewell match.