When is Toni Kroos retiring? Germany and Real Madrid legend approaching end of his career

EURO 2024 has now kicked off with some of the best footballing talent in Europe on display in Germany this summer.

Many of the sport‘s serial winners such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, Robert Lewandowski and Toni Kroos, will take to the pitch at the huge international tournament.

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Real Madrid‘s ageing midfield duo of Modric and Kroos showed no signs of slowing down after the pair lifted their sixth Champions League title at Wembley in June.

But it will soon be the end of an era for one of the two maestros after Kroos revealed his retirement plans earlier this year.

When is Toni Kroos retiring?

Toni Kroos has enjoyed a phenomenal career in football winning some of the highest honours the game has to offer.

The German made his debut for European giants Bayern Munich aged 17 and went on to win the first of three Bundesliga titles that season.

He also won his first Champions League with the club in 2013, beating rivals Borussia Dortmund in the final.

Kroos made the £20million move to Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid in July 2014.

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The midfield maestro went on to make 465 appearances for Los Blancos, winning 21 trophies including five Champions Leagues, five Club World Cups and four La Liga titles.

Kroos was also part of Germany’s 2014 World Cup-winning squad.

He quit international football in 2021 but came out of retirement ahead of Euro 2024 in his native country, following talks with Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann.

Kroos will, however, call time on his illustrious career after the European championship this summer.

He confirmed his decision on Instagram: “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.

“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.”

Who is in Germany’s squad for Euro 2024?

Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona)

Defenders: Waldemar Anton (Stuttgart), Benjamin Henrichs (RB Leipzig), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Robin Koch (Eintracht Frankfurt), Maximilian Mittelstadt (Stuttgart), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen)

Midfielders: Robert Andrich (Bayer Leverkusen), Chris Fuhrich (Stuttgart), Pascal Gross (Brighton and Hove Albion), Ilkay Gundogan (Barcelona), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Emre Can (Borussia Dortmund), Leroy Sane (Bayern Munich), Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)

Forwards: Maximilian Beier (Hoffenheim), Niclas Fullkrug (Borussia Dortmund), Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Deniz Undav (Stuttgart)