“After years of honour in the Switzerland shirt, is this really how Granit Xhaka’s international career could end?”
That is the question now hanging over one of the most decorated and recognisable figures in Swiss football.
For more than a decade, Granit Xhaka has been one of the central figures of the Switzerland national team. From his international debut in 2011 to becoming the country’s captain and record appearance holder, the Sunderland midfielder has built a remarkable relationship with the red shirt.
But suddenly, Xhaka is watching Switzerland’s latest international campaign from the outside.
And for a player who has spent years leading his country, missing out on the current international window has created an entirely different atmosphere around his future.
Xhaka is not currently with Switzerland for their Nations League campaign. The Swiss Football Association confirmed that the decision was reached jointly between Xhaka and the federation following his public statement concerning his Covid vaccination certificate. The federation said the situation would be reassessed after the international window.
That means the door has not officially been closed.
But for supporters who have watched Xhaka wear the Switzerland shirt for years, the sudden absence feels significant.
A decade of leadership
Xhaka’s international story began in 2011.
Since then, he has gone from promising young midfielder to the leader of the Swiss national team. He has represented Switzerland at major tournaments and eventually became the player with the most appearances in the country’s history.
Reuters reported that Xhaka had reached 152 international appearances, making him Switzerland’s all-time record appearance holder.
That is why his absence immediately became one of the biggest talking points surrounding Switzerland.
This is not simply another player missing a few matches.
This is the captain.
This is the midfielder who has worn the armband through some of Switzerland’s biggest moments.
This is the player many supporters have associated with the national team for more than a decade.
And now he is not there.
The decision that changed everything
The current situation began after Xhaka publicly addressed the controversy surrounding a Covid vaccination certificate.
On September 21, Xhaka acknowledged that he had obtained a vaccination certificate during the pandemic and said that it had been a mistake. He apologised and said he would cooperate fully with the relevant authorities.
Shortly afterward, the Swiss Football Association announced that Xhaka would not join the national-team camp.
The federation was clear that the decision had been reached together with the player.
Its president, Peter Knäbel, said the priority was to allow the team to concentrate on its upcoming Nations League fixtures and bring calm to the situation. The federation also said the matter would be reassessed after the international window.
That wording is important.
Because it means there has been no official announcement of international retirement.
Xhaka has not publicly confirmed that he is walking away from Switzerland.
Instead, his future with the national team remains something that will be discussed after the current international period.
“Is this the end?”
For some supporters, however, the uncertainty itself is enough to raise the question.
Could this be the beginning of the end?
Could a player who has spent so many years representing Switzerland eventually decide that his international journey has reached its final chapter?
At the moment, there is no confirmed answer.
In fact, reporting from Switzerland has suggested that a return remains possible.
Swiss outlet Watson reported that sources close to the situation expected Xhaka to return to the national team after the current international window, potentially continuing as captain.
That would mean the current absence could be temporary rather than the beginning of a permanent international exit.
But football can change quickly.
And Xhaka’s situation has placed an unexpected question over the next stage of his international career.
Switzerland has already had to move on without him
Switzerland’s first Nations League match of the current window demonstrated exactly what his absence means.
Without Xhaka, Switzerland defeated North Macedonia 3–0.
The result showed that Murat Yakin’s team could continue competing without its captain, although the significance of Xhaka’s absence was still obvious.
BBC Sport reported that Switzerland’s players acknowledged the challenge of replacing a player who has been such an important figure for the national team.
Manuel Akanji took on the captaincy in Xhaka’s absence.
The midfield responsibilities also had to be redistributed.
For a team that has relied heavily on Xhaka’s experience and leadership, this is effectively an unexpected test of what Switzerland could look like without its long-time captain.
Yakin’s position
Switzerland head coach Murat Yakin has also been placed in an unusual situation.
Instead of planning around Xhaka, Yakin has had to prepare his team without one of his most experienced players.
The Swiss FA has not announced that Xhaka has been permanently removed from the squad.
The federation’s own statement says the situation will be reassessed after the international window.
That leaves the next decision potentially very important.
Will Xhaka return?
Will he continue wearing the captain’s armband?
Will the federation decide that the current arrangement should continue?
Those questions remain unanswered.
A painful way for a legendary international career to pause
Whatever happens next, there is no denying Xhaka’s importance to Swiss football.
He has accumulated more international appearances than any other Swiss men’s player.
He has worn the captain’s armband.
He has played at major tournaments.
He has spent years representing the country.
And now, at 33, he finds himself outside the national-team camp at a time when Switzerland is beginning another competitive campaign.
For a player with such a long international history, the sudden change is striking.
It is also why the idea of an international exit has generated so much attention.
But as things stand, calling it a confirmed retirement would be premature.
The Swiss FA has left the door open for further discussions.
And reports from Switzerland indicate that a return remains possible.
Sunderland will be watching
There is another reason this situation will attract attention in England.
Xhaka is now Sunderland’s captain and one of the club’s most experienced players.
His international situation therefore affects not only Switzerland but also Sunderland supporters, who have watched their captain become one of the most recognisable figures in the squad.
For now, Xhaka’s focus remains on his club career while Switzerland continues its Nations League campaign without him.
The bigger question will come after the international window.
Will Granit Xhaka put the Switzerland shirt on again?
Will he return as captain?
Or will this period eventually be remembered as the moment his extraordinary international career entered its final chapter?
There is currently no official announcement that Xhaka has retired.
But after years of honouring the Switzerland shirt, his absence has certainly created a question that nobody expected to be asking so soon:
Is Switzerland’s record appearance holder approaching the end of his international journey?