Manuel Neuer produced a masterclass in goal for Bayern Munich during their 2-1 Champions League quarter-final first-leg win over Real Madrid at the Bernabéu on April 7, 2026.
The 40-year-old captain made nine saves from ten shots on target, repeatedly denying VinÃcius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé.
His performance earned him UEFA’s Player of the Match award, with football journalist Fabrizio Romano calling him a “legend.”
Neuer, who turns 40 in March 2026, has been Bayern’s No. 1 and captain since joining from Schalke 04 in 2011. His contract runs until June 2026. Against Madrid, he was the decisive factor as Bayern held off relentless home pressure after goals from Luis DÃaz and Harry Kane, despite Mbappé’s 74th-minute strike.
Now in his 15th season at Bayern, Neuer continues to defy age at the highest level. His Bernabéu display reaffirmed his status as one of football’s greatest goalkeepers, turning a potentially heavy defeat into a crucial away victory.