🏆 The 25 greatest players of the last 25 years: The Ice Man in 13th

Welcome to OneFootball's definitive ranking of the 25 greatest players of the last 25 years.

Over the course of 25 days, we will be counting down our top 25 men's footballers of the 21st century so far, before revealing the winner on 1st January 2025.

Check out the list so far here

Today, our countdown continues with...

13th: Toni Kroos (335 points)

• Nationality: German (114 caps, 17 goals)

• Main clubs: Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid

• Major trophies won: LaLiga (x4), Bundesliga (x3), Champions League (x6), UEFA Super Cup (x5), World Cup (x1)

• Major individual awards: German Footballer of the Year (x1), World Cup All Star (x1), European Championship All Star (x1)

• Highest ranking by voters: 6th (two voters)

Without this midfield strategist, the successes of Real Madrid and the German national team would hardly have been possible.

Kroos was considered the tactical heart of his team, who controlled the game from the centre of the park and was always precise, calm and efficient.

He remained at the top of his game until the last year of his career, winning a sixth Champions League crown during his final club game before hanging up his boots.

Fun fact

📸 Carl Recine - 2024 Getty Images

The year 2014 was a perfect showcase for how much Kroos loved hoarding trophies, winning five trophies with three different teams. A World Cup win with Germany was sandwiched between Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal successes with Bayern Munich and a UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup victory at Real Madrid.

Watch him in action

How we voted

Thirty-eight members of OneFootball's global editorial team ranked their top 25 players of the 21st century so far. Players ranked at #1 earned 25 points, second place earned 24 points, and so on. In the event of a tie, the player with the highest individual ranking was placed higher on the list.

📸 Angel Martinez - 2024 Getty Images