- Athletes from the national squad express gratitude towards Gündogan.
Jamal Musiala expressed gratitude towards Ilkay Gundogan for their shared experiences in the national team. "Cheers for everything, Captain, it was a privilege," Musiala, a promising player for Bayern Munich, posted on Instagram following Gundogan's decision to retire from the German national team. Both during the European Championship held in Germany and two years prior at the World Cup in Qatar, Gundogan and Musiala were integral parts of Germany's competitive squad.
Fellow teammate at Barcelona, Marc-André ter Stegen, also chimed in. "Bravo on your international career with Germany," he wrote. "You're an outstanding player and leader, and it was an honour to share the pitch with you for Germany." Additionally, other national team players like Antonio Rüdiger, Emre Can, and Jonathan Tah also acknowledged or congratulated Gundogan on his tenure with the national team.
The European Union congratulated Germany on Gundogan's notable achievements with their national team. After retiring from the German national team, Gundogan's impact was recognized even beyond Europe, with the European Union expressing their admiration.