Watch Uwe Kraft’s exclusive visual story in THE GAME MAGAZINE, capturing Toni Kroos' final match with Real Madrid during their UEFA Champions League victory at Wembley.
Toni Kroos’ Final Match for Real Madrid: A Legendary Exit Captured by Uwe Kraft
Winning the UEFA Champions League final in the last game of a football player’s career is a fairytale ending, and this is how Toni Kroos envisioned his farewell from Real Madrid. “The decision of a great” and “a character,” as Carlo Ancelotti described it.
Kroos leaves behind an incredible legacy at Real Madrid, highlighted by five UEFA Champions League titles, four La Liga titles, multiple FIFA Club World Cups, Spanish Super Cups, UEFA Super Cups, and many more. Indeed, as Ancelotti aptly said, “his career doesn’t need another Champions League” to be complete; since “he has been a fantastic player for ten years, he had made history with Real Madrid and in world football.”
In his final match for Real Madrid, the Champions League final at Wembley against Borussia Dortmund, Kroos delivered a performance befitting his legacy. He set up the opening goal with a corner kick, leading to a header from Dani Carvajal.
In exclusive coverage, THE GAME MAGAZINE photographer Uwe Kraft has captured Toni Kroos’ final match for Real Madrid, one of the greatest in football.
You can see Uwe Kraft’s photo collection from the UEFA Champions League final for THE GAME MAGAZINE.
“I would give him a 10 out of 10. No player would ever speak badly of Toni. Everyone has seen his level and it’s been so consistent too.” – Daniel Carvajal.
“His is a role that’s unique. Toni Kroos is a one-of-a-kind player. He can do things no one else in world football can do.” – Jude Bellingham.
“If you said I could win this final, win the Copa América and Toni would win the Ballon d’Or, I would sign up for that right now. It’s his last year, we won’t see him play again and it’s a pity. We understand his decision and he understands that we’re all sad about it. We are all saying we have to play [this final] for Toni because it’s his last game.” – Vinicius Junior.
“When a player goes, it’s always a pity. Especially a player like Toni. I have been with him at Madrid for 10 years and he’s one of the players I have most enjoyed playing with in my career. It’s sad but it’s his decision and, talking to him, he’s very calm, at peace with his decision.” – Luka Modric.
“Quite honestly, I had a different perception of him, but when I arrived here I came to know the real Toni Kroos. A great guy who loves his family, who I respect a lot. I see him and I see an example to follow, because of the way he treats his family I haven’t seen in any other footballer. I don’t need to talk about Kroos the footballer because in Germany he is, without doubt, the best we have had and he is a legend at Real Madrid.” – Antonio Rüdiger.
“We are saying farewell to a footballing great who we have been lucky to have here.“ – Carlo Ancelotti.
The credit of the cover photo: IMAGO / Uwe Kraft
Quotes from The Guardian.