Alexandra Popp Announces Retirement from National Team

Alexandra Popp, captain of the German women's national soccer team, announced her retirement from international football, ending a distinguished 14-year career. She will play her final match on October 28 against Australia in Duisburg, where she first debuted in 2010. Popp's career highlights include an Olympic gold medal in 2016 and a bronze medal at the recent Paris Olympics, alongside scoring 67 goals in 145 appearances. Her decision to retire was influenced by her desire to end on her own terms and after 'long, tearful deliberations' about her future. Popp intends to continue playing at the club level with VfL Wolfsburg, where her contract runs until the end of the 2024-25 season. Her retirement follows that of two other Wolfsburg players, Merle Frohms and Marina Hegering, marking a significant transition for the national team post-Olympics.