Manuel Peter Neuer is a German professional football goalkeeper who captains both Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga and the Germany national team.
Neuer began his career with Schalke 04, where he won both the DFB-Pokal and the DFL-Ligapokal. He joined Bayern Munich in 2011 and has since won 28 trophies, including 10 Bundesliga titles and two UEFA Champions League crowns, both as part of trebles, in 2013 and 2020.
Neuer was named captain and guided the side to their first Champions League semi-final appearance, when they faced Manchester United. In his last season with the club, Schalke won the DFB - Pokal, defeating MSV Duisburg 5-0. He declared on April 20, 2011, that he would not be renewing his contract with Schalke, which was slated to expire at the end of the 2011-12 season.
In the 87th minute of the 2020 UEFA Super Cup, Neuer stopped a one-on-one chance from Sevilla's Youssef En-Nesyri. Bayern Munich won 2-1 after extra time. Neuer won the German Super Cup six days later. Neuer recorded his 200th clean sheet with Bayern in 394 outings on October 21, 2020, in a 4-0 win over Atlético Madrid in the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League.
Neuer's "sweeper-keeper" approach set him apart from the other starting goalkeepers in the 2014 World Cup. This was attributed to Neuer's eagerness to come out and battle opposition attackers, causing them to miss shots.
Neuer was not put to the test in the FIFA World Cup Final against Argentina on July 13, but he commanded his penalty area well, contesting offensive moves by Gonzalo Higuain and Rodrigo Palacio that prompted them to fire wide of the net. Argentina failed to score despite numerous good chances, including a Higuain goal that was disallowed for offside. Euer pushed the ball clear early in the second half before clashing with Higuain on the edge of the area. Germany eventually overcame Argentina 1-0 in extra time courtesy to a Mario Götze goal.
Neuer won the Golden Glove award for the tournament's best goalkeeper. Neuer also finished the tournament with 244 completed passes, more than outfield players like Lionel Messi (242), Wesley Sneijder (242), and Thomas Müller (221).
Following an incorrect translation of his statement "it would be good if a professional football player came out because it would help others to do the same," a South American publication concluded that he was gay, which was picked up by many other media outlets and has since gained widespread acceptance in some Latin American countries. Mexico was punished for their fans' homophobic taunts during a World Cup match in 2018 when Neuer held the ball.
Neuer was formerly married to Kathrin Gilch until 2014. Neuer began a relationship with Nina Weiss in 2015. Neuer and Weiss married in a civil ceremony on May 21, 2017 in Tannheim, Austria, followed by a religious wedding on June 10, 2017 in the Cathedral of Santissima della Madia in Monopoli, Italy. Neuer began dating Anika Bissel after the couple divorced in early 2020.