Real Madrid will bid farewell to a legend as Toni Kroos will retire from football after the European Championships this summer.
The German has one game remaining for Los Blancos, which will come in the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund, after recently announcing his shock decision to end his playing career.
Real Madrid ended their outstanding La Liga campaign with a final game at the Santiago Bernabeu where they drew 0-0 with Real Betis, but the main focus of the night was Kroos, who was appearing in his final game at the stadium.
This was no ordinary occasion, and the Real Madrid fans gave him a farewell he will likely never forget.
Real Madrid fans show their appreciation for Toni Kroos before final home game
Fans were there to watch Kroos warm up in front of the Bernabeu crowd for the final time, and signs in the crowd expressed their gratitude towards him after 10 years of excellence at the club.
As the players came out of the tunnel and onto the pitch, Kroos was given a guard of honour by both teams, as he walked on for his final game.
Tifos in the crowd read ‘Gracias Leyenda,’ meaning ‘thank you legend’ with signs representing the 22 trophies he had won at the club, and his teammates all wore shirts with his name on the back.
Toni Kroos in tears after his final Real Madrid home match
Kroos was emotional at full-time, and his teammates all expressed their admiration for him after the draw, with the Germany star also wearing the captain’s armband as they lifted him into the air.
Throughout his Real Madrid career, he formed one of the greatest midfield partnerships in the club’s history alongside Luka Modric, and the two shared an emotional embrace at the end.
Kroos will now hope to cap off a legendary spell at Real Madrid with another Champions League victory next week, which will cement his status as one of the greatest midfielders of his generation.