'The Heart Decided': Toni Kroos Says Heartbreaking Goodbye To Germany As He Retires Post Euro 2024

Toni Kroos officially retired from professional football after Germany's heartbreaking exit against Spain in the Quarterfinal of Euro 2024 as they conceded the winner in the 119th minute in a 2-1 loss. 

Toni Kroos retired from Club Football in some style when he won his sixth Champions League title with Real Madrid in June. However, there was going to be no fairytale ending for the German midfielder at the Euros as he ended his career without winning the only trophy he failed to win. 

As Germany's Euro 2024 came to an end, Toni Kroos wrote a final heartfelt goodbye to the nation. 

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Toni Kroos' final goodbye to Germany 

Toni Kroos took to Instagram to share his final farewell to Germany and Football to reveal that when he got the call from Julian Nagelsmann asking him to come out of retirement and return for the Euros, Kroos in his words thought, “I am not stupid”. But his heart told him to return in the end his heart won.  

“The heart decided. My first thought this morning 7/6/2024: I'm glad I did. Despite all the sadness and emptiness since the whistle yesterday. l've seen more and more in the team than she has shown in recent years. But I didn't expect that it is possible in such a short time to have a really realistic chance at the title and to be up to date with the best again! That's why I'm very proud of what this team did,” wrote Toni Kroos. 

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Germany had endured a rough patch in major competitions after being knocked out in the group stages of FIFA World Cup 2018  and 2022 and losing in the Round of 16 of Euro 2020. This is the deepest Germany progressed in a major tournament in last 8 years and they did so in their home tournament by playing a fantastic brand of football.  

This made Toni Kroos immensely proud as he admitted that Germany were on the right track and the fans can feel positive about the team. 

“This was very special. And finally a request: Now that Germany has won back its beloved child: don't let it go! The path of this team continues. And it helps brutally if you stand by her even in bad phases! Because one thing I can assure you: this is a group of great people who do everything they can to succeed. Germany is who we are again,” said Toni Kroos. 

Toni Kroos retires from football having won 1 FIFA World Cup, 6 Champions Leagues, 3 Bundesliga, 4 La Liga, 5 UEFA Super Cup, 3 German Cup, 1 Copa Del Rey, 4 Spanish Super Cup, 1 German Super Cup.