Antonio Rüdiger
Germany
DEF
Age
33
Appearances
0
Tackles won
0
About Antonio Rüdiger
Antonio Rüdiger is the Real Madrid centre-back named in Germany's final 26 for the 2026 World Cup, announced by head coach Julian Nagelsmann on 21 May 2026. He is 33 at kick-off, listed first in the defender group ahead of Waldemar Anton, Jonathan Tah, Nico Schlotterbeck, Nathaniel Brown, David Raum and Malick Thiaw, and brings 82 senior caps with three international goals into the squad as of 30 March 2026. Joshua Kimmich captains the side that qualified out of UEFA Group A.
Rüdiger's senior club arc ran from VfB Stuttgart to Roma in 2015, to Chelsea in 2017, and then Real Madrid in 2022. With Germany he was part of the squad that won the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup and went on to play at Euro 2020 and Euro 2024 between his two previous senior World Cups in Russia and Qatar.
Rüdiger's senior club arc ran from VfB Stuttgart to Roma in 2015, to Chelsea in 2017, and then Real Madrid in 2022. With Germany he was part of the squad that won the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup and went on to play at Euro 2020 and Euro 2024 between his two previous senior World Cups in Russia and Qatar.
World Cup 2026 Stats
Appearances
0
Minutes played
0
Tackles won
0
Interceptions
0
Clearances
0
Blocks
0
Playing Style
Rüdiger plays centre-back: aerial duels, recovery pace, step-up tackling and aggressive defensive work. He can also play as a full-back on either flank, giving Nagelsmann a versatile option inside the 4-1-3-2.
His club honours pair with that profile. He won the FA Cup, the UEFA Europa League and the 2021 UEFA Champions League at Chelsea, then added the Copa del Rey in his first Real Madrid season as well as a La Liga title and a second Champions League title in 2024.
His club honours pair with that profile. He won the FA Cup, the UEFA Europa League and the 2021 UEFA Champions League at Chelsea, then added the Copa del Rey in his first Real Madrid season as well as a La Liga title and a second Champions League title in 2024.
World Cup History
Rüdiger has played at two previous senior World Cups. He was included in Germany's final 23-man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia on 4 June 2018, and on 23 June he was picked for the second group-stage match against Sweden after Mats Hummels suffered an injury; the game ended 2-1 to Germany. He did not play the last group-stage match and Germany were knocked out by South Korea 2-0.
In November 2022 he was called up for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Germany were eliminated in the group stage, finishing third behind Japan and Spain. The 2026 World Cup is his third senior World Cup under Julian Nagelsmann.
In November 2022 he was called up for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Germany were eliminated in the group stage, finishing third behind Japan and Spain. The 2026 World Cup is his third senior World Cup under Julian Nagelsmann.
National Team
Germany
Tier 2
£24m
📋 Teammates (13)
View teamGoalkeepers
Defenders
Midfielders
Forwards
Goal Rush Impact
Germany sit in Tier 2 of Goal Rush at £24m within the game's £200m card budget. The Group E draw — Curacao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador — sets the early fixture window, with Nagelsmann's confirmed 4-1-3-2 and a UEFA Group A qualifying win providing the team-slot context.
At player level, Rüdiger adds a defender profile to that team slot. He is one of seven defenders in the final 26, with senior tournament context from two previous World Cups, the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup win, and UEFA Euro 2020 and Euro 2024 squads.
At player level, Rüdiger adds a defender profile to that team slot. He is one of seven defenders in the final 26, with senior tournament context from two previous World Cups, the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup win, and UEFA Euro 2020 and Euro 2024 squads.
🏆 Goal Rush
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Rüdiger at the 2026 World Cup
Rüdiger enters the 2026 World Cup as one of Germany's centre-back options, with two previous World Cups at Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022 already on his record. Nagelsmann lists him first in the defender group, and his match-day relevance hinges on how the manager rotates the back line across Group E games.
Picking Germany in Goal Rush
For Goal Rush, picking Germany means committing to the Tier 2 slot at £24m, a second-tier band on the card. The Group E matchday window opens against Curacao at NRG Stadium in Houston on 14 June, then Ivory Coast at BMO Field in Toronto on 20 June, and Ecuador at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford on 25 June.
Antonio Rüdiger World Cup 2026 FAQs
Germany sit in Tier 2 of Goal Rush at £24m per slot, and Rüdiger is one of seven defenders in Nagelsmann's final 26. His matchday relevance hangs on whether he starts in the back-line rotation for Germany's Group E games.
Rüdiger is a centre-back. He plays for Real Madrid and lines up in the centre-back group for Germany, with versatility to drop to full-back on either flank inside Nagelsmann's 4-1-3-2.
Rüdiger has 82 senior caps for Germany with three international goals as of 30 March 2026. The 2026 tournament is his third senior World Cup after Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.
Rüdiger plays for Real Madrid after his 2022 move from Chelsea. He won the 2021 UEFA Champions League with Chelsea and a second Champions League title with Real Madrid in 2024, alongside the Copa del Rey in his first Real Madrid season.
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