an axial cage (1) for cylindrical rolling bodies which substantially is formed of a thin-walled washer (2) with a W-shaped profile, the individual profile legs of which are formed by an inner radial rim (3) formed on the inner edge of the washer (2), an outer radial rim (4) formed on the outer edge of the washer (2) and a U-shaped center crimp (7) connected by way of inner and outer axial profile sections (5, 6) to the radial rims (3, 4) and having the same radial extent as the rims (3, 4). A number of evenly spaced rectangular cage pockets (8) are cut from the central crimp (7) and the adjacent axial profile sections (5, 6), between which pockets an equal number of pocket webs (9) are formed connecting the rims (3, 4) with one another, by which webs the cylindrical rolling bodies (10) are retained in the cage pockets (8) at uniform distances from one another and are also guided in the circumferential direction. According to the invention, this axial cage (1) is characterized in that the outer radial rim (4) is formed with an inclination (α) facing away from the central U-shaped crimp (7) and the cage pockets (8) have an axial length greater than the smallest axial distance between the inner sides (11, 12) of the inner and the outer radial rim (3, 4) such that the cage pockets (8) extend at least into the outer radial rim (4) of the axial cage (1) and, because of a crowned formation of the outer face sides (13) towards the center of the pocket on the outer radial rim (4) of the axial cage (1) at the height of the roll axes of the rolling bodies (10), form a rounded thrust lug (14) for the outer end faces (15) of the rolling body (10).