Real Madrid’s German international midfielder, Toni Kroos, announced on Tuesday that he will retire from all football after Euro 2024. “My career as an active footballer will end this summer after the Euro championship,” the 34-year-old Kroos, who was part of Germany’s 2014 World Cup-winning team, shared on Instagram. Before the European Championship, Kroos has the opportunity to win the Champions League with Real Madrid for the fifth time, facing Borussia Dortmund at Wembley on June 1. Prior to joining the Spanish giants in 2014, he also won the Champions League with Bayern Munich. At Real Madrid, Kroos quickly established a formidable midfield partnership with Luka Modric.
A Legendary Career at Real Madrid and Beyond
In a statement on their website, Real Madrid declared that Toni Kroos “will go down in Real Madrid history as one of our club and international football’s greatest legends.”
During his illustrious career, Kroos has won the La Liga title four times with Real Madrid and the Bundesliga three times with Bayern Munich.
In July 2021, Kroos announced his retirement from international football. However, in February, after discussions with Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann, he decided to reverse his decision and play on until Euro 2024, set to take place on home soil.
Kroos, who has accumulated 108 caps and scored 17 goals for Germany, was a pivotal player in their 2014 World Cup victory in Brazil, famously scoring twice in the 7-1 semi-final victory over the host nation. Unfortunately, four years later, he was unable to prevent Germany from being eliminated in the group stage in Russia.
Though he did not participate in Germany’s group-stage exit at the Qatar 2022 World Cup, Kroos has made his international return at Nagelsmann’s request and will lead a rejuvenated Germany side at Euro 2024.
Toni Kroos Announces Career Decision
Toni Kroos expressed his aspirations on Instagram, stating, “My ambition was always to finish my career at the peak of my performance level.” He added, “I am happy and proud that I found the right timing for my decision in my mind, and that I could choose it on my own.”
