Toni Kroos insists he is not interested in the Ballon d’Or, despite being on the 30-man shortlist for the award.
Former Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos, who announce his retirement this summer, has told Spanish broadcaster TVE that he is not interest in winning the 2024 Ballon d’Or, but would be happy if his former team-mate from Los Blancos wins the accolade.
Kroos is on the 30-man shortlist for this year’s Ballon d’Or, along with former team-mates Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, Dani Carvajal, Federico Valverde and Antonio Rudiger, but the 34-year-old former midfielder has no interest in winning the award.
‘For me, the Ballon d’Or doesn’t matter. If someone from Real Madrid wins it, I’m fine with it. Vinicius deserves it, Jude deserves it and Carvajal deserves it, but I don’t care,’ Kroos said.
The former Germany midfielder also spoke about his life after leaving Real Madrid and football, saying: ‘I feel very good. If I decide to do something, I am confident and I will do it. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t cost me สมัคร ufabet anything. At the end of the day, it’s just football. We have to suffer in other things in life. ‘
Despite his retirement, his exploits in his final season mean that he remains in contention for the Ballon d’Or, held later this month, though his former team-mates Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham might be consider more likely winners.
However, the award voting can sometimes be influence in recognition of the achievements of a player’s whole career, and Kroos was also still in exceptional form in his farewell campaign.