Over the years, few players have been as influential to a team’s performance as Toni Kroos has with the German playing an integral role at every club he has ever been with. That includes his stints at Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich but Kroos is known for his time with Real Madrid. The now 34-year-old signed for the La Liga side in the summer of 2014 and has since gone to make a sensational impact.
That includes winning over 20 trophies which includes four Champions League crowns, four La Liga titles and a catalogue of others during his nine year spell. Yet with his contract expiring at the end of the 2023/24 season, many expected Kroos to renew his deal and continue on with the Los Blancos. But the German has taken things in another direction, announcing his shock retirement at the end of Euro 2024.
Toni Kroos retirement: Ronaldo pens heartfelt message
The decision to retire after the tournament has come as a shock to many as Kroos made the announcement on Instagram. It saw plaudits flood the 34-year-old’s way including from several former teammates with David Alaba, Sergio Ramos and several others all praising him. That also included Cristiano Ronaldo, Kroos’ former teammate at Real Madrid where the duo spent four years together.
The German joined in 2014, at which time the number 7 had already been there for five years and the duo played together for four more years before the Portuguese star left for Juventus. Together, the two men won 11 trophies including several Champions League crowns. The message, posted below Kroos’ Instagram post, praised the 34-year-old and thanked him for everything.
“(Thanks) for everything, Toni! What an honor to share the pitch with you. All the best for the future!,” Ronaldo wrote under Kroos’ Instagram post.
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