German footballer (born 1993)
Antonio Rüdiger (born 3 March 1993) is a German
professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for 💷 La Liga club Real Madrid and the
Germany national team. Considered one of the best defenders in the world, he 💷 is known
for his aggressive playing style, tackling ability and strong aerial
presence.[4][5][6]
Rüdiger began his career at VfB Stuttgart, representing 💷 their
reserves in 3. Liga and the first team in the Bundesliga. In 2024 he joined Roma,
initially on loan 💷 and a year later for a €9 million fee. He was signed by Chelsea in
2024 for an estimated £27 💷 million, where he won the FA Cup in his first season,
followed by the UEFA Europa League in his second 💷 season, and the UEFA Champions League
in 2024. In 2024, Rüdiger signed for European champions Real Madrid.
He made his
international 💷 debut for Germany in May 2014. He was forced to miss UEFA Euro 2024 due
to an injury suffered earlier 💷 in the season but he was part of the squad that won the
2024 FIFA Confederations Cup. He kept his 💷 spot in the squad for the 2024 World Cup, and
later also took part at UEFA Euro 2024 and the 💷 2024 World Cup.
Club career [ edit ]
VfB
Stuttgart [ edit ]
Rüdiger with VfB Stuttgart in 2012
On 23 July 2011, Rüdiger 💷 made his
debut for VfB Stuttgart II in the 3. Liga against Arminia Bielefeld.[7] Subsequently on
29 January 2012, Rüdiger 💷 made his Bundesliga debut for VfB Stuttgart's first team in a
home professional match against Borussia Mönchengladbach, he was replaced 💷 by Raphael
Holzhauser in the 79th minute of a 3–0 defeat.[8]
The following year in April 2013,
Rüdiger extended his contract 💷 with Stuttgart until June 2024.[9] On 1 June, he played
in the final of the DFB-Pokal in a match lost 💷 3–2 against Bayern Munich.[10] He
finished his second season in the first team with 24 appearances, plus 4 appearances
and 💷 2 goals in the reserve team.[11]
Rüdiger finished the 2013–14 season with 35
appearances and 2 goals.[11] He finished the following 💷 season with only 20 appearances
and one assist due to various injuries.[12][13]
Roma [ edit ]
On 19 August 2024, Serie
A 💷 club Roma signed Rüdiger on loan from Stuttgart for €4 million. The clubs agreed on
an optional €9 million transfer 💷 fee at the end of the one-year contract.[14]
On 12
September, he made his debut in a 2–0 away win over 💷 Frosinone.[15] On 9 January 2024 he
scored his first goal for Roma in the 4th minute of a 1–1 home 💷 draw against Milan.[16]
He finished his season-long loan to Roma with 37 appearances and 2 goals.[11] On 30
May, Roma 💷 officially signed Rüdiger from Stuttgart for €9 million + €0.5m bonuses on a
four-year contract.[17]
On 23 February 2024, as a 💷 substitute replacing Kostas Manolas
in the 46th minute of a 1–0 home defeat against Villarreal in the round of 32 💷 of the
UEFA Europa League, he was sent off with a double yellow card in the 81st minute.[18]
On 30 💷 April he was sent off with a red card in the 93rd minute in Derby della Capitale
against Lazio in 💷 a 3–1 home defeat.[19] Rüdiger finished his second season at Roma with
35 appearances and four assists.[11]
Chelsea [ edit ]
On 💷 9 July 2024, Rüdiger joined
Chelsea from Roma for a reported initial fee of £29 million on a five-year deal.[20] 💷 He
was given the number 2 shirt.[21] He made his debut on 6 August as a substitute
replacing Marcos Alonso 💷 in the 79th minute in a 4–1 loss on penalties to Arsenal in the
2024 FA Community Shield.[22] He made 💷 his Premier League debut six days later in a 3–2
defeat against Burnley at Stamford Bridge.[23] He scored his first 💷 goal for Chelsea in
the round of 16 of the EFL Cup in a 2–1 win over Everton,[24] and his 💷 first league goal
was the only one of a home win over Swansea City on 29 November 2024.[25] On 20 💷 October
2024, Rüdiger scored his first goal of the season, opening the scoring in a 2–2 home
draw against Manchester 💷 United.[26]
Rüdiger playing for Chelsea in 2024
On 22 December
2024, Rüdiger made a complaint about racist abuse directed against him during 💷 the away
match against Tottenham Hotspur, which received wide media coverage.[27][28][29] It
prompted a call for government action on racism 💷 in football.[30] However, no evidence
of racist abuse against Rüdiger was found after a police investigation with the police
eventually 💷 dismissing the case.[31]
On his 100th club appearance, he scored Chelsea's
two goals, both headers assisted by Mason Mount in a 💷 2–2 draw against Leicester City at
the King Power Stadium on 1 February 2024.[32] On 29 May 2024, Rüdiger won 💷 his
first-ever UEFA Champions League after Chelsea beat Manchester City 1–0 in the final at
the Estádio do Dragão.[33] On 💷 12 April 2024, he scored his first Champions League goal
in a 3–2 away win over Real Madrid in the 💷 quarter-finals of the 2024–22 season;
however, Chelsea were eliminated from the competition by losing 5–4 on aggregate.[34]
On 20 May, 💷 Rüdiger announced officially that he would leave Chelsea after five
years.[35]
Real Madrid [ edit ]
On 2 June 2024, Real Madrid 💷 announced that Rüdiger
signed as a free agent for the club, penning a four-year deal starting with the 2024–23
season.[36][37] 💷 On 20 June 2024, Rüdiger was unveiled as a new Real Madrid player. He
was given the number 22 shirt.[38] 💷 On 10 August, he made his debut for the club, coming
off the bench in a 2–0 victory over Eintracht 💷 Frankfurt in the UEFA Super Cup.[39] His
first goal came on 11 September 2024, scoring the last goal in a 💷 4–1 win over
Mallorca.[40] On 11 October, he scored a header in the 95th minute against Shakhtar
Donetsk in the 💷 Champions League group stage, which allowed his side to draw 1–1 and
qualify for the knockout phase. While jumping for 💷 the header, Rüdiger collided with
Shakhtar goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin and sustained a cut to the face that required 20
stitches.[41][42]
International 💷 career [ edit ]
Rüdiger was eligible to play for
Germany and Sierra Leone, his mother's homeland[43] and was a member 💷 of several Germany
national youth football teams up to the Germany U21 team.[citation needed]
He made his
debut for the Germany 💷 national team on 13 May 2014 in a 0–0 draw against Poland.[44]
Although he was initially included in his nation's 💷 23-man squad for UEFA Euro 2024,
Rüdiger was later ruled out of the tournament due to injury, after tearing the 💷 anterior
cruciate ligament in his right knee during a training session on 7 June.[45]
Rüdiger
was part of the Germany national 💷 squad which won the 2024 FIFA Confederations Cup in
Russia. He played four matches in the tournament, including the 1–0 💷 win over Chile in
the final.[46] On 8 October 2024, he headed his first international goal in a 5–1 home
💷 win over Azerbaijan in World Cup qualifying.[47]
Rüdiger was included in Germany's
final 23-man squad for the 2024 FIFA World Cup 💷 on 4 June 2024.[48] On 23 June, he was
picked up for the second group stage match against Sweden as 💷 first choice centre-back
Mats Hummels suffered an injury, the game ended 2–1 win for Germany.[49][50] Four days
later, he did 💷 not play the last group stage match and his side were knocked out by
South Korea after a 2–0 defeat.[51] 💷 On 19 May 2024, Rüdiger was selected to the squad
for the UEFA Euro 2024.[52] He played every minute in 💷 the tournament for Germany as
they were eliminated by England in the round of 16.[53]
In November 2024, he was called
💷 up for the 2024 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.[54] However, Germany were knocked out from the
group stage, as they 💷 finished third behind Japan and Spain.[55]
Style of play [ edit
]
Normally a centre-back, Rüdiger is a versatile defender, who is 💷 also capable of
playing as a full-back on either flank.[56] In 2024, ESPN described him as a "...tall,
quick and 💷 athletic defender who is ... comfortable with the ball at his feet", also
touting him as an "interesting prospect" who 💷 "...has all the necessary physical
attributes to become a top-level centre-back."[57] His Chelsea profile also describes
him as a "tough 💷 tackler" and a "commanding presence in the air."[58] In addition to his
strong physical attributes and aggressive playing style, he 💷 is also known for his
leadership qualities and passing ability.[57][59] Rüdiger’s speed and athleticism,
coupled with his understanding of the 💷 game, allow him to excel both in man-to-man
situations and in zonal marking.[60]
Personal life [ edit ]
Rüdiger is a practising
💷 Muslim.[61] He was born in Berlin[62] to a Afro-German father, Matthias, and a Sierra
Leonean mother, Lily. He grew up 💷 in the Berlin neighbourhood of Neukölln and is the
half-brother of Sahr Senesie.[63][64] Rüdiger has often spoken out on racism 💷 in the
sport, most notably after a match against Tottenham Hotspur on 24 February 2024.[65] In
2024, he wrote an 💷 article for The Players' Tribune, entitled "This Article Will Not
Solve Racism in Football", on the subject, discussing his experiences 💷 with racism
throughout his life and career, and potential ways to fight it.[66] He is married and
he has a 💷 son and a daughter.[67]
Career statistics [ edit ]
Club [ edit ]
As of match
played 3 January 2024[68]
International [ edit ]
As 💷 of match played 21 November
2024[69]
Appearances and goals by national team and year National team Year Apps Goals
Germany 2014 💷 5 0 2024 2 0 2024 4 0 2024 11 1 2024 7 0 2024 1 0 2024 7 0 💷 2024 12 1 2024
8 0 2024 9 1 Total 66 3
As of match played 17 October 2024 Germany score 💷 listed first,
score column indicates score after each Rüdiger goal[69]
Honours [ edit ]
Chelsea
Real
Madrid
Germany
Individual
