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Antonio Rüdiger portraitDF
Photo: Bryan Berlin · CC BY-SA 4.0

Player profile

Antonio Rüdiger

Defender · Real Madrid

GermanyActive

Antonio Rudiger extended his Real Madrid contract through 2027, then had a mixed 2026 World Cup with Germany, starting on the bench before working into a rotational role as the tournament progressed.

Career

Rudiger's 2025-26 season was more measured than his previous double-winning peak at Real Madrid: 26 club appearances and one goal across 2,191 minutes, including 18 La Liga appearances with four clean sheets and seven Champions League appearances.

He signed a contract extension with Real Madrid running to June 2027, securing his place at the club into his mid-30s.

At the World Cup, Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann left him out of the starting lineup at first; Rudiger made his first start of the tournament as Germany's group-stage campaign continued, in a 2-1 loss to Ecuador.

How they play

Rudiger is now managing a shift from automatic starter to a squad role at Real Madrid, a change he has addressed directly: 'That's my role, and I accept and respect it.'

Where they are now

He heads into 2026-27 as an experienced squad option at centre-back for Real Madrid, contracted through 2027, after a World Cup where he had to work his way into Germany's XI rather than start it.

Bio

Date of birthMarch 3, 1993 (age 33)
BirthplaceBerlin
Height190 cm
PositionDefender
StatusActive
Current clubReal Madrid

Club career

  1. Real Madrid Club de Fútbol2022–http
  2. Chelsea F.C.2017–2022
  3. AS Roma2016–2017
  4. AS Roma2015–2016
  5. VfB Stuttgart2012–2016
  6. VfB Stuttgart II2011–2012

International career

  1. Germany men's national association football teamSince 2014Current

Youth caps: U21 (2012–2013) · U20 (2012) · U19 (2011–2012) · U18 (2010–2011)

Honours

No honours on record yet.

Defining moments

  1. Contract extension to 20272026

    Rudiger signed a new deal with Real Madrid running to June 2027, extending a stay that began in 2022.

  2. First World Cup start, loss to Ecuador2026

    Nagelsmann handed Rudiger his first start of the tournament as Germany fell 2-1 to Ecuador in the group stage.

Latest season stats (ESPN)

Starts (sub-ins): 0 (0)Goals: 0Assists: 0Tackles: 0

In our archive

0 appearances0 goals0 assists

We haven’t archived a match featuring this player yet — appearances appear here the moment we cover one.

Sources

Read for this profile

Profile written / last reviewed August 6, 2026.

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Comments

0/2000

Be decent. No links. Slurs are held for review, not published.

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