By
SABC Sport
22nd September 2026
The 35-year-old was part of Germany's 2026 World Cup squad but was not included in Jurgen Klopp's first squad as the new head coach. Gross stressed that his omission had nothing to do with his decision.
Speaking to Sky, Gross explained that he had already decided to step away from international football but had not previously made the news public.
"For me, it was over after the World Cup. I wish the new generation all the best," Gross said.
Gross finishes his Germany career with 19 appearances and one goal. His international career came relatively late, with his debut arriving in September 2023 when he was 32.
He went on to feature at Euro 2024 and the 2026 World Cup before bringing his international career to an end.
The timing of the announcement came shortly after another standout display for Brighton. Gross scored in their 3-0 victory over Arsenal and was named Man of the Match, underlining that he remains an important player at club level.
While Gross has now stepped away from Germany, he has no plans to slow down with Brighton.
