Germany and Real Madrid midfielder and legend Toni Kroos is hanging up his boots he announced on Tuesday. One of the greatest midfielders to ever do it will compete for his sixth UEFA Champions League trophy and Euro 2024 before he finishes playing.
Kroos began his career with Bayern Munich, played with the club until 2014 winning a Champions League title and then made his big move to Madrid.
The rest is history.
Toni Kroos retires
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“After 10 years, at the end of the season this chapter comes to an end,” Kroos said on Instagram. “I would particularly like to thank everyone that welcomed me with an open heart and trusted me. But especially I would like to thank you, dear Madridistas, for your affection and your love from the first day until the last one.
“As I have always said: Real Madrid is and will be my last club. I am happy and proud, that in my mind I found the right timing for my decision and that I could choose it by my own. My ambition was always to finish my career at the peak of my performance level.”
While many players make the choice to play outside of Europe toward the end of their careers or finish at smaller clubs, Kroos has always wanted to end on top. He could do so in the ultimate way with one final Champions League trophy to add to his enormous cabinet.
Tributes and thank yous came pouring in for a generational midfielder that was part of arguably the best midfield trio in the world with Luka Modric and Casemiro.
#GraciasKroos pic.twitter.com/i78nLxczry
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) May 21, 2024
Mi querido Toni,
Compañero de Champions y amigo para siempre. Has sabido cuándo decir adiós, así que mira hacia atrás orgulloso y sonríe: te lo has ganado.Kroos solo hay uno, el que hemos disfrutado todos (Lukita y yo especialmente), pero el de la foto es Toni, Toni.… pic.twitter.com/HGhTUvjRY2
— Casemiro (@Casemiro) May 21, 2024
That was fun @ToniKroos pic.twitter.com/t5jmPzc3pI
— Luka Modrić (@lukamodric10) May 21, 2024
Kroos helped Real Madrid win four LaLiga titles including the one from this season during his time in Spain. In total he's won 22 trophies with Los Blancos.
In his final season with Real Madrid he started 33 games, provided nine assists and scored once. The 2024 Champions League final will be his 464th and final appearance.
On the international stage Kroos will have his eyes set on one trophy he’s never won. Kroos has twice reached the semifinals with Germany but been unable to lift the European Championship so far.
He’ll have one final chance this summer with Germany who are hosting the tournament.
The star midfielder conquered the world with the 2014 World Cup triumph. He scored twice in the span of two minutes during the 7-1 thrashing of Brazil in the semifinal.
Despite winning it all, arguably his most iconic moment in a German shirt was during his nation’s worst tournament in 2018. That late free kick winner against Sweden in the group stage will forever be iconic.
When you bag a stoppage-time stunner at the #WorldCup @ToniKroos
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 23, 2018
What a player.
