Real Madrid, Germany legend Toni Kroos will retire from football after Euro 2024, his club have announced
- Former Bayern Munich midfielder won World Cup and Uefa Champions League on five occasions
- Kroos came out of international retirement to play in home tournament under Julian Nagelsmann
Real Madrid and Germany icon Toni Kroos will retire from professional football following Euro 2024, his club announced on Tuesday.
The news comes as a surprise with Los Blancos, who wrapped up the La Liga title earlier this month, set to play in the Uefa Champions League final on June 1.
In a statement, Madrid expressed their “gratitude and affection”, adding that Kroos was “one of our club and international football’s greatest legends”.
The news has probably come as a shock to Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti because, speaking last week, he hinted that Kroos could be a contender for the Ballon d’Or if he wins the Champions League and Euros.
Kroos, 34, started his career with Bayern Munich, where he made his professional debut in 2007, and stayed with the Bavarians until 2014. During his time with the club he won three Bundesliga titles, three German cups as well as the Champions League as part of a treble in the 2012-13 campaign.
He also added a Uefa Super Cup and Fifa Club World Cup before moving to Madrid.
In Spain, he formed part of one of the best midfields of his generation with Luka Modric and Casemiro, winning the Champions League three years in a row from 2016 to 2018.
The German international added another in 2022, when he also added to his tally of six Club World Cup victories, which is a record in the competition.
He leaves Madrid having won a fourth La Liga title to add to one Spanish Cup and three Uefa Super Cup triumphs.
Kroos has the chance to win a record-equalling sixth Champions League when his Madrid side face Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.
Arguably his career highlight came in a Germany shirt as he helped his country to World Cup glory at the 2014 tournament in Brazil, scoring twice along the way in the infamous 7-1 semi-final win over the hosts.
Having announced his retirement from international football in 2021, Kroos reversed that decision earlier this year and now has the chance to bow out on the ultimate high.
The European Championship is one of the few medals missing from the midfielder’s haul and he potentially has the opportunity to triumph on home soil in his last professional appearance.
