Germany's World Cup winning captain Philipp Lahm is to retire from the national team, it was confirmed by the German Football Association DFB Friday. The 30-year-old Bayern Munich defender led his country to a fourth World Cup title in Brazil but decided to step back from the team. "I already told Joachim Loew on Monday, that I would retire from the national team," Lahm told Germany's Bild newspaper. "The decision to do so developed during last season." Lahm and his team-mates returned to a hero's welcome in Berlin on Tuesday after Mario Goetze's extra-time goal earned a 1-0 win over Argentina in Sunday's World Cup final, dpa reported.