Toni Kroos: Ex-national player is withdrawing for the time being

Football legend Toni Kroos (34) wants to take it easy in the new year. 2024 was an “exhausting year,” he admitted in the new episode of his podcast “Einfach mal Luppen,” which he does together with his brother Felix (33). He felt like he was “permanently present” in public, which he now wants to distance himself from.

“I don’t necessarily want to see myself featured in newspapers or quoted in the next few months. It’s just been that way forever. That’s why I’ve canceled invitations and inquiries for the next few months, because then it’ll just be good at some point.” He has decided not to do anything in public for the first three months of next year. This also applies to the joint podcast, which brother Kroos will continue to run alone from January 15th “for a certain period of time”.

Toni Kroos has had a turbulent year: he won the Champions League with Real Madrid, he returned to the national team and played with them in the home European Championship. He then ended his professional career. In the past few weeks he has also been seen at many events – from Bambi to “A Heart for Children”. The most successful German footballer with 34 titles was also honored at the “Sportsman of the Year” gala on December 15th. He received the Lifetime Award for his achievements. When connected from Munich, he emphasized that he was “happy” with the decision to end his career. There he particularly highlighted the 2014 World Cup victory in Brazil. Winning the World Cup title for your country is always something “very special”.

His year 2024 was also special: in the podcast he looked back on the “most special year there has been so far in my opinion”. It was very positive and good, but also very emotional and exhausting given the “profound changes”. He also barely had time to reflect on the year’s experiences in peace.

He has now decided to “be out of the public eye for a while”. He had been harboring the idea for “a little while.” No matter what he says, it will be “present and widely received.” Of course that is also part of it. But: “Anyone who knows me in my basic settings knows that this is actually never what I was looking for.” All the award ceremonies are also “a really great sign,” but he just wants to “get out of there for a while.”