Toni Kroos, for me, has to be among the top three best midfielders in Real Madrid’s history. And he is undoubtedly the greatest midfielder of this generation, I even place him above Luka Modric.
Kroos was an incredibly special and influential player for both Real Madrid and the German national team. The void he has left behind still hasn’t been filled, and I doubt a similar profile will ever emerge. They don’t make players like him anymore.
The thing is, Real Madrid now have to change their expectations of what a midfielder should offer, because Kroos was unique. His qualities cannot be expected from any other player, no matter how talented or experienced they may be.
To be honest, Kroos is one of the best players never to have won the Ballon d’Or. He deserved that trophy at least once, especially in the later years of his career, when he became the central figure in Real Madrid’s midfield. Sadly, he never had the kind of public appeal that modern-day stars often enjoy.
And Davide Ancelotti, son of former manager Carlo Ancelotti and a member of his coaching staff, has reiterated this view.
In an interview with Onda Cero, via MadridXtra on X, the former assistant coach said, “I wonder how a player like Kroos didn't win the Ballon d’Or.”
Davide Ancelotti’s opinion makes complete sense, and every Real Madrid fan knows it
I consider it a failure on the part of the Ballon d’Or and world football as a whole that Toni Kroos was never awarded the Golden Ball.
Kroos was the hidden architect of this Real Madrid team for years. He dictated the team’s tempo and was central to every major triumph.
Now that the German is gone, fans are beginning to truly grasp his worth. He was the undisputed starter in every crucial game for a reason, because of his intelligence and remarkable consistency.
As I’ve said before, the void he has left behind is unfillable. You can create a new position or change how the team plays, because another Toni Kroos will never be made.