“Figo Shirt Photo Helped Me,” Says Kroos

Toni Kroos may have hung up his boots, but the accolades haven’t stopped rolling in.

The now-retired Real Madrid legend was recently awarded the Order of Merit by the State of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, a prestigious recognition in his native Germany. The ceremony marked another milestone in Kroos’s post-career journey — a quiet but steady tribute to one of the greatest midfielders of his generation.

As has become customary in his recent public appearances, Kroos once again took the opportunity to reflect on the club that defined the second half of his career: Real Madrid.

“I was wearing a Figo Real Madrid shirt,” Kroos said. “I didn’t know then how much it would help me. I wasn’t a Real Madrid fan, but that photo came out on social media. And of course, all the Real Madrid fans were saying, ‘Kroos is a Real Madrid fan; he’s had a shirt since he was seven.’ It wasn’t true, but the photo with the Figo shirt helped me,”

While the viral photo may not have been proof of childhood fandom, it proved to be a prophetic image. Kroos joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2014 and went on to build a legacy that will be remembered for generations. Over a decade at the club, he won five Champions League titles, three La Liga trophies, and became one of the cornerstones of a midfield that dominated Europe.

Managingmadrid.com