It is official. Toni Kroos, one of the greatest midfielders of this generation — and possibly of all time — has announced his decision to retire from football.
The German midfielder revealed that the upcoming UEFA Champions League final against Dortmund will be his final game in a Real Madrid shirt. After that, he will head to Euro 2024 to represent his national team for one last time before hanging up his boots.
The 34-year-old recently helped the Spanish giants win the 2023-24 La Liga title, his 22nd trophy since moving to Santiago Bernabeu. The German ace will finish his career having played over 700 games for Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, and Real Madrid.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez thanked the maestro for his contribution to the Spanish team in an official club statement, hailing him as one of the greatest players in Los Merengues history.
"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," Perez stated.
Kroos also took to Instagram to relay a heartfelt farewell message to Madridistas in which he expressed his utmost gratitude towards the club and its fans while explaining the reason behind this unexpected decision.
"As I have always said: Real Madrid is and will be my last club," the player wrote.
"July 17th, 2014 - the day of my presentation at Real Madrid, the day that changed my life. My life as a footballer - but especially as a person. It was the start of a new chapter at the biggest club in the world. After 10 years, at the end of the season, this chapter comes to an end.
"I will never forget that insolent successful time! I would particularly like to thank everyone that welcomed me with an open heart and trusted me. But especially I would like to thank you, dear Madridistas, for your affection and your love from the first day until the last one.
"At the same time this decision means that my career as an active footballer will end this summer after the Euro championship."
Kroos, who was expected to extend his deal until 2025, ended his message by explaining his desire to end his career on a high before issuing one last battle cry: to bring a 15th UEFA Champions League title to the Bernabeu in his final game for the Spanish champions.
"I am happy and proud, that in my mind I found the right timing for my decision and that I could choose it by my own. My ambition was always to finish my career at the peak of my performance level. From now on there is only one leading thought: a por la 15!!! HALA MADRID Y NADA MAS!"
Toni joined the Madrid giants in 2014 and will bid farewell following 10 unforgettable seasons. Ancelotti's men have two more games — Real Betis this weekend and Dortmund on June 1 — left before the season ends, which means Kroos will end his Real Madrid career having played 465 matches for Los Blancos.
The former Bayern Munich ace has won four UEFA Champions League titles in the iconic white shirt and will be hoping to lift a fifth in just over a week. Toni also won five FIFA Club World Cups, four UEFA Super Cups, four La Liga crowns, one Copa del Rey, and four Spanish Super Cups during this time.
Additionally, the midfielder also lifted a UEFA Champions League, a FIFA Club World Cup, one UEFA Super Cup, and three Bundesliga crowns during his time with Bayern Munich. He also played an instrumental role in Germany's 2014 FIFA World Cup victory.
And then there was one… pic.twitter.com/jrScTtgp6O
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) May 21, 2024
With one of Real Madrid's greatest midfielders deciding to leave the club and retire, the focus will now shift to Luka Modric, another iconic player whose future remains up in the air. Los Blancos have long been searching for the heirs to the German and Croatian legends. Could the Spanish giants lose both men in one summer?