Real Madrid and Germany midfielder Toni Kroos will retire after Euro 2024 in his homeland.
The 34-year-old is one of the most decorated footballers of all time, winning the 2014 World Cup in Brazil with Germany and lifting the Champions League five times, four during the past decade with Real Madrid and once with Bayern Munich.
He will seek to make that six as Madrid prepare to face Dortmund in the final at Wembley on June 1 – his final game in club football.
Kroos told fans in a social media post that his life changed the day he moved to Real, adding: “It was the start of a new chapter at the biggest club in the world. At the end of this season this chapter comes to an end. My career as an active footballer will end this summer after the European Championship.
“I have always said Real will be my last club. I am happy and proud that in my mind I found the right timing for my decision and that I could choose it on my own.
“My ambition was always to finish my career at the peak of my performance level.”
Kroos moved to Madrid in 2014 and won 22 trophies in 463 games, adding five Club World Cups, four European Super Cups, four La Liga titles, a Copa del Rey and four Spanish Super Cups to the four European Cups.
At Munich, he won the Club World Cup, a European Super Cup, three Bundesliga titles, three German Cups and two German Super Cups in addition to the Champions League.
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In addition to winning 108 caps for his country, Kroos has been named in the FIFA FIFPRO World 11 on three occasions, was named the Best Playmaker in 2014 by the IFFHS and won the Golden Ball as best player at the 2007 U-17 World Cup in Korea.
Real Madrid president, Florentino Pérez, told the club website: “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.”
Official Announcement: Toni Kroos.#RealMadrid | #GraciasKroos
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) May 21, 2024
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