One of Real Madrid's 'greatest players' - Toni Kroos announces retirement

Toni Kroos, one of the most legendary midfielders of his generation, announced that he will retire from football at the end of the season. Kroos will hang up his boots after Euro 2024 as one of the most successful footballers in modern history after an incredible career. 

Before his retirement, Kroos will be aiming to win his 6th Champions League title when Real Madrid face Borussia Dortmund at Wembley later this month before representing Germany at the European Championships in his homeland. Kroos’ passing ability and calmness in possession remains unrivalled and his importance in Real Madrid’s history was perfectly outlined by club president Florentino Pérez. ‘Toni Kroos is one of the great players in the history of Real Madrid and that this club is and will always be his home,’ Pérez eulogised. As the graphic below illustrates, Kroos is one of the most decorated players, since making his debut in 2007, and he will surpass Germany teammate Thomas Müller on the list, if Madrid are victorious in the Champions League final.

Toni Kroos’ incredible career in numbers 

The 34-year-old has performed at the highest level of the game since making his professional debut for Bayern Munich in 2007, winning a plethora of trophies. Kroos won three Bundesliga titles at Bayern and one Champions League in 2013 before joining Real Madrid in 2014. During a decade in Spain, the midfielder has played an integral role in Madrid winning four La Liga titles and four more Champions League crowns - including three consecutive successes between 2016 and 2018. Kroos also won six FIFA Club World Cups across his time at Bayern and Munich while he helped Germany win the most prestigious tournament in football when they lifted the World Cup in 2014. 

‘Those who have followed Kroos' career won't be surprised that the 34-year-old has opted to end his career this summer,’ said Maneul Veth, Transfermarkt’s North America area manager and Bundesliga expert. ‘Going by underlying stats, Kroos has been one of the best, maybe the best, central midfielders across Europe's top five leagues. Kroos has always said he will end his career at the top, and the 34-year-old has been faithful to his word. On top of that, Kroos can now finish his career with the home European Championships in Germany. What will be his legacy? There are the Champions League titles Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, the World Cup with Germany, and countless league titles. There has been a wave of goodwill in Germany after he announced his return to the national team ahead of the Euros. Now he has the chance to manifest that legacy as well and then ride into the sunset a hero for both Real Madrid and his country.’

Toni Kroos’ Real Madrid excellence 

Pérez’s assessment that Kroos will go down in history as one of Madrid’s ‘greatest players in history’ is testament to his excellence in Spain. The German has scored 28 goals and provided 98 assists in 463 appearances in the famous white shirt but his brilliance goes beyond the numbers. Few players in history have possessed Kroos’ ability to dictate the tempo of games from midfield with his positional awareness and passing ability. Real Madrid’s obsession with being crowned European champions for the tenth time was finally realised in 2014.

Although Kroos missed the final triumph over rivals Atletico Madrid, he was still named in UEFA’s team of the year for 2014 and the two following years when Madrid lifted the famous trophy. Madrid’s midfield trio of Casemiro, Kroos and Luka Modric dovetailed superbly and possessed the perfect balance in the centre of the pitch. Kroos’ decision to retire shocked the footballing community as he’s performed at an incredibly high level for Madrid this season. Across the top five leagues, Kroos ranks 1st for forward passes, accurate forward passes, long passes and passes into the final third and he’s bowing out with grace, while still close to the peak of his powers. 

Toni Kroos’ final swansong with Germany on home soil

It’s fitting that Kroos will draw the curtain close on his phenomenal career on home soil this summer in Germany. The midfielder was central to his nation winning the World Cup in 2014 when he was arguably the player of the tournament in Brazil. Kroos registered four assists during the tournament but he decided to retire from international football in 2021 amid criticism for his performance in the 2-0 defeat to England. Kross, however, came out of retirement in February and it only took seven seconds of his return to highlight his undoubted class when he provided a sensational assist to Florian Wirtz in the 2-0 win over France. While Germany aren’t considered amongst the favourites to win the Euros, Kroos experience will be vital to their prospects and he will bow out as one of the best midfielders of his generation.