Kroos receives the Premio Siete Estrellas from the Madrid Regional Government
The Real Madrid legend received the award for Best Male Athlete of 2023.
Toni Kroos received the Premio Siete Estrellas (7 Stars of Sport Award) from the Madrid Regional Government at a ceremony held at the Real Casa de Correos and presided over by Isabel Díaz Ayuso, President of the Madrid Regional Government. The German, who retired from football at the end of the 2023/24 season, was recognised in the category of Best Male Athlete of 2023. The awards highlight the work of the most successful athletes and the organisations that contribute most to the promotion of sport in the region.
Kroos: "In Madrid, I found the club of my life"
"Thank you for the invitation and the award. I always saw myself as a team player, so I accept this award, but I have to thank my teammates, the coaches, the club, as well as the people of Madrid. Everyone welcomed us with open arms, and it's important to feel comfortable to play well. When we arrived 11 years ago, we thought we would return to Germany when my time at Madrid was over, but every year we have felt more comfortable and now our home is here. I have found the club of my life here and also a home."
Ayuso: "Kroos leaves a mark that transcends generations"
"Today, we recognise as the best male athlete a player who has won everything, a Madrileño from Germany. Beyond his trophy cabinet, Kroos represents a calm, intelligent, and brilliant way of understanding competition. Few players have been able to say goodbye at the top with the elegance of someone who has been the protagonist of an era and who leaves a mark that transcends generations."
A legendary career
Kroos arrived at Real Madrid in 2014, and in the 10 seasons he played for the club, he won 23 titles in 465 matches: 5 European Cups, 5 Club World Cups, 4 European Super Cups, 4 LaLiga titles, 1 Copa del Rey, and 4 Spanish Super Cups. He is one of only five players to ever have won six European Cups, five with Real Madrid and one with Bayern Munich.
In addition to his titles with Real Madrid, Kroos was crowned world champion with Germany at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. On an individual level, he was included three times in the FIFA FIFPRO World XI (2014, 2016, and 2017), named Best Playmaker in 2014 by the IFFHS, and won the Golden Ball as best player at the 2007 U-17 World Cup in Korea.
Hugo González, Best Promising Sportsman of 2023
In addition to Kroos, another Real Madrid player was honoured at the ceremony. Hugo González, who is currently disputing the Endesa League title with the Whites, was named Best Promising Sportsman of 2023. The youth team player made his debut for Real Madrid in the 2022/23 season at just 16 years of age and won a silver medal with the Spanish national team at the Under-17 World Cup.