Who Will Succeed Toni Kroos? The Top 2 Madrid Stars for No. 8 Shirt After Midfielder's Retirement

• Toni Kroos has announced he will retire from football this summer
• The 34-year-old midfield genius will take his final bow at Euro 2024
• But who will inherit his No. 8 shirt at Real Madrid when he retires?

Real Madrid midfielder, Toni Kroos, sent shockwaves around the football ecosystem with his decision to call time on his glistening football career.

The German international revealed his decision on Tuesday, May 21, through an Instagram post, declaring that he will hang up his boots after Euro 2024.

Since Kroos made his announcement, tributes have poured in from teammates, both past and present, honouring his illustrious career.

Among the heartfelt messages, perhaps the most touching tribute came from Kroos' longtime midfield partner, Luka Modric.

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Despite his retirement announcement, Kroos remains focused on achieving further success.

He aims to secure his sixth Champions League title with Madrid in the upcoming final against Borussia Dortmund on June 1, per ESPN.

Following the conclusion of the Champions League, the 34-year-old will shift his focus to the Euro 2024 tournament, where he hopes to clinch a second international title with Germany as they host the event this summer.

Who will inherit Kroos' iconic No. 8 shirt?

While Madrid has the talent in abundance to replace the former Bayern Munich midfield maestro, there is a conundrum over who will wear his iconic No. 8 shirt when he leaves.

Reports from Spain, corroborated by Tribuna, suggest there are two leading candidates to take up the shirt at Real Madrid when he departs.

Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde emerge as the primary contenders for this honour.

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Both players exhibit significant promise and could potentially uphold Kroos' legacy, not only in shirt number but also in on-field contributions.

While Kroos possesses a unique style and elegance, Tchouameni, Valverde, and possibly Eduardo Camavinga and Dani Ceballos (if he remains) could fill the void left by the German's departure.

Ancelotti endorses Kroos for 2024 Ballon d'Or

In a previous report, Sports Brief highlighted Carlo Ancelotti's endorsement of Toni Kroos as a potential Ballon d'Or candidate for the current year.

Ancelotti suggests that if Real Madrid secures the Champions League title and Germany wins Euro 2024, Kroos could be a strong contender for the prestigious award.

Given Kroos' pivotal role in Madrid's achievements this season, Ancelotti is thoroughly impressed with his performance and sees no barriers to him clinching the Ballon d'Or.