Having already called time on his club career, Germany midfielder Toni Kroos has brought his playing days to a close following his country's European Championship exit.
One of the most brilliant passing midfielders of this generation, Kroos is hanging up his boots after his last ride with the national team at a major tournament on home soil ended with defeat against Spain in the quarterfinals.
Kroos has delivered some of the most brilliant assists we've seen in the past 17 years and has done so at the highest level. He could also find the net himself, both from open play and set-piece situations.
The Sporting News details all the best achievements from a glittering career for both club and country as Kroos ends his storied playing career.
MORE: Full Germany squad list for Euro 2024
How old is Toni Kroos?
Born in January of 1990, midfield legend Toni Kroos is 34 years old.
He has called time on his career after a sensational 17 years in which he played almost entirely for just two clubs, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, a rarity in the modern game. He debuted for Bayern in 2007 at just 17 years and 265 days old, at the time becoming the youngest player in team history. His only season spent outside those two clubs was a loan to Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen in 2009/10, where he made 43 appearances and scored 10 goals.
He finished this summer's Euros, and his career, with 114 international caps and 17 goals.
When is Toni Kroos retiring?
Toni Kroos has now ended his football career following the conclusion of Germany's challenge at Euro 2024.
He had already played his last club match, going out on top by winning the 2024 UEFA Champions League final in his swan song with Real Madrid.
And now Germany have been eliminated from this summer's Euros, Kroos' career is officially concluded.
"After 10 years [at Real Madrid], at the end of the season this chapter comes to an end," Kroos said on May 21 to announce his impending retirement. "At the same time this decision means that my career as an active footballer will end this summer after the Euro championship. As I have always said: Real Madrid is and 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 by my own.
"My ambition was always to finish my career at the peak of my performance level."
Kroos actually retired from international duty in 2020 following a 2-0 defeat to England in that summer's Euros, but after four years out of the fold, he announced he would return in early 2024 after being approached by Julian Nagelsmann. His return for a final few months came on the heels of a revival season with Real Madrid in 2023/24, his last professional campaign.
MORE: Predictions and odds for every team at Euro 2024
Toni Kroos career highlights for Real Madrid, Germany, and Bayern
Kroos will go down as one of the most successful midfielders to ever play the game of football. Known for his calm presence on the ball and exceptional passing abilities, Kroos has been at the forefront of a host of title-winning teams.
Between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, Kroos won a combined seven league titles, four domestic cup trophies (not including five domestic super cups), and six Champions League titles. That tally is a record for a player, level with Real legend Paco Gento as well as his Los Blancos teammates Dani Carvajal, Luka Modric, and Nacho.
His first and last Champions League final victories mirrored each other quite well. Both came against Borussia Dortmund, and both came at Wembley Stadium. Additionally, in the first, Kroos became the youngest player to assist a goal in the Champions League final, a record that would stand until his Real Madrid teammate Jude Bellingham broke it in the last, a game in which Kroos himself also recorded an assist.
Passing was the most central key of his game: according to Squawka, Kroos is the only player in the history of La Liga to achieve a 90% pass accuracy for 10 straight seasons.
Toni Kroos career stats, trophies won
Kroos is one of the most decorated players in the history of the game. Most notably, he's won the Champions League six times, joint-most in history, as part of a haul of 32 club trophies.
He was a major contributor in Germany's 2014 World Cup title, and reached the semifinals of the Euros twice. He finished in the top 10 of the Ballon d'Or voting in 2014 but was never a flashy enough player to reach higher into the standings.
Toni Kroos career statistics
Statistics via Transfermark.us
| Club | Competition | Games | Goals | Assists | Mins |
| Bayern Munich | Bundesliga | 130 | 13 | 29 | 8,704 |
| UEFA Champions League | 43 | 6 | 12 | 3,264 | |
| DFB-Pokal | 21 | 4 | 5 | 1,733 | |
| UEFA Cup/Europa League | 6 | 1 | 2 | 174 | |
| UEFA Super Cup | 1 | 0 | 1 | 120 | |
| DFL-SuperCup | 2 | 0 | 0 | 175 | |
| FIFA Club World Cup | 2 | 0 | 0 | 118 | |
| Bayer Leverkusen | Bundesliga | 43 | 10 | 13 | 2,944 |
| DFB-Pokal | 5 | 0 | 0 | 271 | |
| Real Madrid | La Liga | 306 | 22 | 72 | 23,980 |
| UEFA Champions League | 110 | 5 | 19 | 8,700 | |
| Copa del Rey | 23 | 0 | 4 | 1,737 | |
| Supercopa de Espana | 13 | 1 | 0 | 1,124 | |
| FIFA Club World Cup | 9 | 0 | 4 | 756 | |
| TOTAL | 718 | 62 | 161 | 54,167 | |
| Germany | International Friendlies | 36 | 5 | 8 | 2,708 |
| UEFA Nations League | 9 | 1 | 1 | 810 | |
| Euro Qualifying | 22 | 4 | 3 | 1,814 | |
| European Championship | 19 | 0 | 1 | 1,508 | |
| UEFA World Cup qualifying | 14 | 4 | 4 | 1,199 | |
| FIFA World Cup | 14 | 3 | 4 | 1,018 | |
| TOTAL | 114 | 17 | 21 | 9,057 |
Toni Kroos career honors, trophies won
Bayern Munich
- Domestic:
- Bundesliga (3): 2007/08, 2012/13, 2013/14
- DFB-Pokal (3): 2007/08, 2012/13, 2013/14
- DFL-Supercup: 2012
- Europe:
- UEFA Champions League: 2012/13
- UEFA Super Cup: 2013
- Global:
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2013
Real Madrid
- Domestic:
- La Liga (4): 2016/17, 2019/20, 2021/22, 2023/24
- Copa del Rey: 2022/23
- Supercopa de Espana (4): 2017, 2020, 2022, 2024
- Europe:
- UEFA Champions League (5): 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2021/22, 2023/24
- UEFA Super Cup (3): 2014, 2017, 2022
- Global:
- FIFA Club World Cup (5): 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022
Germany
- FIFA World Cup: 2014
- UEFA European Championship: None (Best finish: Semifinals, 2x — 2012, 2016)
Individual
- Ballon d'Or: None (Best finish: 9th, 2014)
- FIFPRO World 11 (3x): 2014, 2016, 2017
- UEFA Team of the Year (3x): 2014, 2016, 2017
- German Footballer of the Year: 2018
- La Liga top assister: 2016/17
