Toni Kroos is on the verge of cementing his legacy as one of football’s all-time great midfielders. The Real Madrid star, 34, will conclude his illustrious club career with one final piece of silverware on Saturday. Having announced his retirement from professional football after this summer’s Euros.
Kroos’s career is marked by an astounding 92 percent average passing accuracy. At Real Madrid, this statistic climbs to an impressive 93.6 percent, highlighting his unparalleled precision. With 108 caps for Germany, Kroos has left an indelible mark on the sport.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has acknowledged the immense challenge of replacing Kroos. Describing him as “difficult if not impossible” to substitute due to his exceptional passing abilities. Although Ancelotti urged Kroos to extend his stay for another year, he now sees Jude Bellingham as the natural successor in midfield.
Kroos’s decision to retire at the pinnacle of his career is rare among sports stars, especially in football. His remarkable resume includes four European Cups, a World Cup, and four La Liga titles. Underscoring his status as one of the most decorated players in European football.
Manchester United fans, however, may remember with regret how close they came to signing Kroos in 2014. Former United boss David Moyes had nearly secured a deal, but Moyes’s dismissal and Louis Van Gaal’s subsequent appointment complicated matters, leading Kroos to join Real Madrid instead. Reflecting on the situation in 2020, Kroos said, “David Moyes came to see me and we had basically finalized the contract, but then they fired Moyes and brought in Louis van Gaal, which complicated matters.” Louis wanted time to build his own project. I didn’t hear anything from United for a while and started having doubts. Then the World Cup started and Carlo Ancelotti called. And that was it.”
Kroos’s ability to maintain possession and control the game makes him invaluable. In a crucial Champions League semi-final first leg against Bayern Munich, Kroos’s composure under pressure was evident. He kept the ball for what seemed like 15 minutes, nullifying Bayern’s early dominance and eventually setting up Vinicius Junior to score. Real Madrid drew 2-2 that night and advanced 4-3 on aggregate.
Jude Bellingham has lauded Kroos as a mentor and role model, emphasizing his extraordinary influence from the first training session. “The ball just goes where he wants,” Bellingham remarked about Kroos.
Although Kroos retired from international football in July 2021, he reversed his decision in February after discussions with Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann. This summer, Kroos could cap his career with a fifth European Cup win for Real Madrid and a triumphant Euros campaign with Germany in his home country.
As farewells go, Kroos’s departure from football is set to be spectacular, befitting one of the true greats of European football.
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