Responding to emotional Real Madrid fans who felt his absence would leave a huge, irreplaceable void in the team, Toni Kroos remarked that he won’t be missed if the team could continue winning major titles after Sergio Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo left:
“People say Real miss me, but Madrid adapted when Cristiano left, when Ramos left… they’ve always adapted and kept winning.”
“We won the UCL twice without, for example, the two mentioned… although they were very important and are absolute legends.”
“The same will happen with me now.”
Kroos announced his retirement from football in May 2024, having played actively for 17 years for both club and country. He is regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all time and Germany’s most decorated player, with 34 trophies.