Alexandra Popp retires as Germany's first female football superstar
Alexandra Popp, aged 33, bid an emotional farewell in Duisburg on Monday, leaving the field in tears as she concluded her career as the nation's first true women's football icon.
The match, which ended in a 2-1 defeat to Australia, took a backseat to the heartfelt tribute, as 26,263 supporters filled the MSV-Arena to honor Popp's departure from international football.
The audience stood in unison after 15 minutes when Popp was substituted, passing the captain's armband to Giulia Gwinn, who is poised to become the new face of women's football in Germany.
Popp expressed to reporters that she had "an incredible amount of fun" throughout her career, reflecting, "I entered the national team as a young girl... and suddenly found myself in a leadership role."
She admitted to "struggling (against tears) during the anthem," and noted, "after that, I shed one or two tears... When the tears come, they come."
"It was a lot today, but I am very grateful to have experienced it all once more," she remarked.
The early substitution, while disappointing for some, had been arranged in advance.
"Naturally, you want to continue playing. If that were not the case, I would have to stop playing with my club (Wolfsburg)," she stated.
New manager Christian Wueck, who was coaching at home for the first time following Friday's 4-3 victory over England at Wembley, highlighted the significance of the Matildas match, especially with Euro 2025 in Switzerland approaching in just eight months.
"She is an absolute leader. Young girls began playing football because of her. That is a significant achievement," Wueck conveyed to Germany's ZDF network.
In her 145th international appearance, the German captain was unable to increase her tally of 67 goals.
She was present on the field when Selina Cerci scored the opening goal just five minutes into the match, giving Germany an early lead. However, she had already bid farewell when Australia's Kyra Cooney-Cross equalized with a remarkable long-range shot from 40 meters just before the half-time break.
Clare Hunt found the net with 13 minutes left in the game, setting Australia on the path to victory.
During the pre-match press conference on Sunday, Popp acknowledged the "romance" of the moment, stating, "there's nothing more beautiful than finishing where it all began."
She played her inaugural professional match on this very pitch with MSV Duisburg in 2008, where she also secured a Champions League title. Popp made her debut for Germany here in February 2010.
After 14 years, two Champions League titles, seven Bundesliga championships, and 13 German Cups, Popp emerged as the first female player to achieve a level of recognition comparable to that of her male counterparts in football-enthusiastic Germany.
An Olympic gold medalist in 2016, Popp's career coincided with the global expansion of women's football.
However, Popp was unable to add to Germany's tally of two World Cups or eight European Championship titles, reflecting how much the rest of the world has caught up with the German team.
SportsLigue