'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAFAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYH/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgP/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAAMxgCh//xAAgEAABAwQCAwAAAAAAAAAAAAADAQIEAAUGEQchMZLR/9oACAEBAAE/AMejW2Txplkibb2mmx2gGE6EcxR+e9JTQlRE1KP7r9r/xAAWEQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAAL/2gAIAQIBAT8AQNIX/8QAFhEAAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEh/9oACAEDAQE/AFT/2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos has picked the Los Blancos trio of Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal to win the 2024 Ballon d'Or. Kroos, who retired this summer, also picked himself in the list.
One of the best midfielders of his generation, the 34-year-old had a hugely successful decade-long stint at the Santiago Bernabeu. In 465 games across competitions, Kroos registered 28 goals and 99 assists.
That includes a goal and nine assists in 48 outings across competitions as Carlo Ancelotti's side won three trophies, including their second La Liga-UEFA Champions League double in three years. Following his sterling exploits, Kroos earned a nomination for this year's Ballon d'Or.
In his Einfach mal Luppen podcast (via Tribuna), Kroos said about his choices for this year's Ballon d'Or winner:
"Regardless of the order: Vini, Jude, Carvajal."
Among the trio, Carvajal won Euro 2024 with Spain, beating Bellingham's England 2-1 in the Berlin final in July, while Vinicius reached the 2024 Copa America quarter-final with Brazil, losing to Uruguay on penalties.
Kroos then cheekily added:
"I would also deserve it. The main thing is one of Real Madrid because we were the most successful team in Europe."
The 2024 Ballon d'Or winner will be announced in Paris on October 28. A first-time winner is guaranteed, as the four former active winners - Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Luka Modric and Karim Benzema - didn't make the 30-man shortlist.
What Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos said about his retirement
As mentioned earlier, Toni Kroos spent a hugely successful stint at La Liga giants Real Madrid before announcing in May this year that he would hang up his boots for good.
Ahead of the UEFA Champions League final at the Wembley with Borussia Dortmund - which Los Blancos won 2-0 - Toni Kroos penned an emotional message on Instagram, a part of which read (as translated from Spanish):
"After 10 years, at the end of the season this chapter comes to an end. I will never forget that insolent successful time! I would particularly like to thank everyone that welcomed me with an open heart and trusted me.
"But especially I would like to thank you, dear Madridistas, for your affection and your love from the first day until the last one. At the same time this decision means that my career as an active footballer will end this summer after the Euro championship."
He concluded:
"As I have always said: Real Madrid are and will be my last club. I am happy and proud, that in my mind I found the right timing for my decision and that I could choose it by my own. My ambition was always to finish my career at the peak of my performance level. From now on, there is only one leading thought: a por la 15!!! HALA MADRID Y NADA MAS!"
As things panned out, Kroos did end his career with Los Blancos' record-extending 15th UEFA Champions League title, joining Luka Modric, Dani Carvajal and Nacho Fernandez to win the competition six times in its current avatar.
Toni Kroos' last game as a professional was with Germany in a 2-1 loss to eventual winners Spain in the Euro 2024 quarter-final.
