Antonio Rüdiger
Real MadridCB
Ball-Playing Centre Back
Mar 3, 1993 (33)
Right
6'3"
187 lb
Six clearances in loss
Rudiger recorded three crosses (zero accurate) and six clearances in Monday's 1-1 (5-4) penalty shootout loss to Paraguay.
Analysis: Rudiger played up until the final 10 minutes of extra time Monday, notching three crosses and six clearances in the loss. He would complete 114 passes as Germany controlled the game, although that control was not enough to earn them a second goal in 120 minutes of play. He ended the World Cup with two straight starts after the injury to Nico Schlotterbeck (ankle), recording two tackles and 13 clearances in 262 minutes of play, although he failed to earn a clean sheet as Germany didn't see any at the 2026 World Cup.
Records four clearances
Rudiger recorded one tackle (zero won) and four clearances in Thursday's 2-1 loss versus Ecuador.
Analysis: Rudiger started in the defense for the first time for Germany at this World Cup, recording a tackle and four clearances in his 90 minutes. With Nico Schlotterbeck out for the rest of the tournament, Rudiger is likely to now see an elevated role moving forward. However, with two goals allowed Thursday, this was a rough start for the center-back, with Waldemar Anton or Malick Thiaw as other options.
Signs contract extension until 2027
Rudiger signed a contract extension with Real Madrid until June 2027, the club announced.
Analysis: Rudiger made 25 appearances across all competitions this season, contributing one goal in 18 La Liga outings as injury limited his availability throughout what was a challenging campaign for the Merengues. Rudiger has been one of the most important defensive figures at the Bernabeu since joining from Chelsea in 2022, accumulating 182 La Liga appearances for the club and winning multiple major honours including the Champions League and La Liga title during his time in Madrid. His extension commits one of Real Madrid's most experienced and physically dominant defenders to the club for at least one further season.
Select Player
Search and select a player to compare