In a night of celebration and nostalgia, Real Madrid clinched their 15th Champions League title with a 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley. The triumph, marked by second-half goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior, also saw the emotional farewell of German midfielder Toni Kroos, who announced his retirement following this summer’s European Championship.
As Kroos was substituted towards the end of the match, he received a standing ovation from the fans, visibly moved by the warm response. Speaking on TNT Sports, Jose Mourinho humorously suggested that UEFA should intervene to prevent Kroos from retiring while still in peak form. “It should be forbidden. FIFA and UEFA, they have so many rules and decisions. Make a decision and stop the guy from retiring!” joked Mourinho, the former Manchester United and Chelsea manager.
Kroos’ retirement decision appears firm despite the accolades and pleas. Asked by CBS Sports before the final if he might reconsider, Kroos responded decisively: “No, it’s done. Once I take a decision, it’s done.”
The 34-year-old midfielder leaves an indelible mark on Real Madrid, having made 464 appearances over a decade, scoring 28 goals and providing 98 assists. His partnership with Luka Modric is hailed as one of the most formidable in football history. Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti praised Kroos, saying, “His decision to go is the decision of a great, a decision of character. We are saying farewell to a footballing great who we have been lucky to have here.”
Kroos, who nearly joined Manchester United in 2014, instead moved to Madrid, where he won six Champions League titles. Reflecting on his near-move to Manchester United, Kroos revealed that former manager David Moyes convinced him, but the club’s decision to replace Moyes with Louis van Gaal altered his career path. “I’m not someone who thinks about hypotheticals. Yes, it was close. I almost went to Manchester United. But that’s not how things turned out,” Kroos said in a 2022 interview.
Kroos’ final moments on the pitch were filled with celebration as he joined ecstatic supporters, celebrating Real Madrid’s continued European dominance. Alongside legends like Dani Carvajal, Luka Modric, and Nacho, Kroos solidified his place in football history, each now boasting six Champions League titles.
As Real Madrid fans revel in their team’s victory, the football world bids farewell to one of its greats, marking the end of an era for both Kroos and the sport.