Manuel Neuer made Champions League history during Bayern Munich’s opening match of the 2026/27 campaign against Bodo/Glimt at the Allianz Arena. At 40 years and 167 days old, the veteran goalkeeper became the oldest German player ever to appear in the competition, surpassing the previous mark held by Jens Lehmann. His continued presence between the posts highlights the trust placed in him by Bayern head coach Vincent Kompany.

Neuer’s record could be extended even further if he remains Bayern’s first-choice goalkeeper throughout the season. Should the German giants reach the Champions League final in Budapest on May 30, 2027, Neuer would be more than 41 years old when he takes part in the decisive fixture. His longevity remains remarkable, particularly given the physical and competitive demands of playing at the highest level of European football.

Despite his latest achievement, Neuer is still some distance away from becoming the oldest player ever to feature in the Champions League. That record belongs to Italian goalkeeper Marco Ballotta, who played for Lazio against Real Madrid in December 2007 at the age of 43 years and 252 days. Ballotta remains the benchmark for veteran players in the competition.

Another legendary Italian goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon, ranks second on the all-time list. Buffon represented Juventus against Barcelona in December 2020 at 42 years and 315 days old. With Neuer continuing to play a central role for Bayern, the German goalkeeper has an opportunity to move closer to those historic milestones while adding another remarkable chapter to his already decorated career.