What are the five best Toni Kroos moments of all time? I had to give it quite a thought to finalise the top five, given the illustrious career the 34-year-old has had. But, finally I was able to come up with a list.
As the German midfield general says goodbye to the beautiful game after Germany crashed out of the Euro 2024 quarterfinals against Spain, let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit the five biggest moments of his career.
Five Best Toni Kroos Moments Ever
5. Free Kick Goal Against Sweden, World Cup 2018
Although Germany’s 2018 World Cup campaign came to a disappointing end with an exit at the group stage, there were still some moments to savour. One such instance was courtesy of Toni Kroos’s wicked right foot.
In their second Group F clash against Sweden, Germany found themselves locked at 1-1 as the final whistle loomed. With only the final minute of stoppage time remaining, Germany got a free kick at the edge of the Swedish penalty box. The angle was cute difficult, but, Kroos conjured up a moment of magic to make it count.
He played the ball short to Reus with a deft touch, then received it back instantly. With a magnificent curling effort, he sent the ball sailing past the Swedish goalkeeper and nestled it right into the top corner.
4. Free Kick Against Valencia, Spanish Super Cup, 2020
In the Spanish Super Cup semi-final, Toni Kroos unleashed a wonder strike from a corner that left Valencia goalkeeper Jaume Domenech flat-footed. The ball flied into the net with a majestic arc, putting Real Madrid firmly in the driving seat for a place in the final.
Kroos has a well-earned reputation for rising to the occasion, often when the game hangs in the balance. This instance was arguably one of the finest illustrations of that quality. I, therefore, had to shortlist this as one of the best five Toni Kroos moments ever.
3. Quickfire Brace Against Brazil, World Cup 2014
Germany’s unforgettable 7-1 demolition of Brazil in the 2014 World Cup semi-final remains etched in footballing folklore as a truly historic match.
At the very heart of this German masterclass was Toni Kroos, who dictated the tempo from midfield with his metronomic passing and orchestrated the attacks that tore Brazil apart.
Within a devastating 69-second spell, the German midfielder rifled home two sublime goals, adding another exquisite assist for good measure. This virtuoso performance secured him the man of the match award and propelled Germany to the World Cup final.
2. Long Range Assist for Vinicius Jr. Against Liverpool, Champions League, 2021
This inch-perfect assist against Liverpool in the 2021 knockout stages stands as another testament to Kroos’s phenomenal technical acument. Facing Liverpool’s high press deep in his own half, Kroos remained unfazed. With a single, magnificent looped pass that travelled over 50 yards, he bisected the entire Liverpool backline and sent Vinicius Jr. clean through on goal.
The telepathic understanding on the pitch between Vinicius and Kroos produced a string of pivotal goals. While this particular assist didn’t culminate in silverware, it remains a moment of exquisite technique that will be etched in the memory for years to come.
1. Long Range Assist for Vinicius Against Bayern Munich, Champions League, 2024
In a twilight Champions League encounter on familiar soil, Kroos proved he remains a maestro. Facing his former employers in Munich, he reminded the world of his magical abilities once again. With a defence-splitting pass that was poetry in motion, he unlocked the Bayern backline, sending Vinicius Junior racing through on goal. The Brazilian duly converted, handing Real Madrid a vital first-leg advantage in the semi-final.
“There’s a lot of credit to go to Vini because he offers me the passes with his movement and he did it well, as I know him well I just looked for the space he opened, I don’t think the pass was that special, it was all in the movement,” Kroos said about the pass after the match.
