Germany and Real Madrid great Toni Kroos to retire after Euro 2024

Toni Kroos will retire from football after the 2024 European Championship and will also leave Real Madrid, the club said on Tuesday.

Kroos had initially retired from the German national team but made a U-turn to come back in time for Euros 2024.

Real Madrid said that the 34-year-old German international “has decided to bring an end to his time as a professional footballer following Euro 2024.”

“Real Madrid would like to express its gratitude and affection to Toni Kroos, a player who will go down in Real Madrid history as one of our club and international football's greatest legends,” the club said.

Kroos has been with Madrid since 2014, helping it win 22 titles, including four European Cups and four Spanish leagues. He made 463 appearances with the club.

Kroos put out a lengthy message to the Madrid fans on his Instagram and said that his life changed on the day he was unveiled as a Real Madrid player. Kroos said that his career is coming to an end as he wanted Los Blancos to be his final club.

"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. 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. From now on there is only one leading thought: a por la 15!!! HALA MADRID Y NADA MAS!" read the statement.