Things are about to get serious privately for sports presenter Lea Wagner (31), while professionally she's stepping back in the coming weeks. 'Last one, everything went smoothly,' along with a ball and a trophy - that's how the post begins in which the ARD presenter says goodbye to her viewers and fans. Right in the peak phase of the World Cup, she's going on maternity leave.
On Instagram she also thanked her 'great team' and offered a tongue-in-cheek look into the future: 'I'd love to say that things will calm down for me for a few weeks now - but I've heard from many parents that the opposite is the case.'
Loving words after the last show before maternity leave
Wagner's last appearance for now was on Tuesday on 'Sportschau.' Alongside expert Thomas Hitzlsperger, she covered the World Cup match between Argentina and Egypt.
The reactions didn't take long. Congratulations from fans and colleagues gathered under the post. 'All the best, dear Lea! Reach out if you need sparring partners who went through all this just a few months before you,' one read, or: 'All the best for the time ahead, dear Lea, and enjoy it.' Another follower also found loving words: 'What parents tell you, make your own experiences, I wish you a wonderful start into your shared life, a baby is simply the 'best' thing that can happen to you in life. You've got this. All the best.'
How she announced the pregnancy publicly
The baby news hasn't been a secret for a while. Several months ago, Wagner had already let on that after the tournament, 'a private highlight' was waiting for her. Since early March, her baby bump has been hard to miss during her appearances.
Wagner has been regularly in front of the camera for ARD since the World Cup started. Now her tournament ends earlier than for her colleagues who will cover the World Cup until the final.
She remains silent about the father
As openly as Wagner shows her excitement, she just as consistently keeps her private life in the background. She doesn't reveal when exactly the child will be born or who the father is. 'Private remains private. I simply want to protect myself, us, and hope that people understand,' the sports journalist told the 'Bild' newspaper in December 2025.
How long the presenter's maternity leave will last is also uncertain.
