"My ambition has always been to finish my career at the peak of my performance level. From now on there is only one leading thought: go for the 15th! HALA MADRID AND NOTHING MORE!" exclaimed Toni Kroos about his ambition to reach 15 Champions League titles.
Emotional Farewell at the Bernabeu
Kroos' farewell was marked by an emotional atmosphere at the Santiago Bernabeu after Los Blancos drew 0-0 against Real Betis on May 26, 2024.
The squad, staff, and club president paid tribute to his dedication to Real Madrid. The young and veteran players accompanied him as he greeted the fans around the stadium.
Bilingual banners "danke fur alles, muchas gracias Toni" (Thank you Toni) were displayed throughout the stadium.
The Madridistas paid their respects to their legend by waving their hands and shedding tears, soaking their white shirts.
Kroos' family also joined him on the pitch to say goodbye in his last appearance at the Bernabeu. An emotional moment came when his daughter couldn't hold back from crying while in Kroos' arms.
He was overwhelmed by his daughter's reaction. "I'm a strong man, but when I see my daughter cry, that kills me," the German midfielder told Forbes.
Kroos' Remarkable Achievements as a Midfield Maestro
After the touching farewell, Real Madrid held a photo session to celebrate Kroos' 21 achievements since he joined from Bayern Munich in 2014.
21 trophies, including 4 Champions Leagues and 4 La Liga titles, have been presented by Kroos to Real Madrid in his ten years of experience as a midfield general.
"I've always felt at home in these ten years, I couldn't ask for more," he explained.
The Silent Galactic took his last decision with the capital city and dressed up with 28 goals and 98 assists in 463 appearances.
Toni's entire 10 seasons record as a general midfielder of Real Madrid-Instagram @squawkafootball-
Kroos' statistical role in the game seems overlooked, many said he was just ordinary as a player if the spotlight is on goal and assisting.
But, if we look at his trademark passing ability, the number tells a different story.