Welcome to OneFootball’s definitive ranking of the 25 best players of the past 25 years.
Over the course of 25 days, we’ll be counting down our top 25 men’s footballers of the 21st century so far before announcing the winner on January 1, 2025.
View the list so far here
Today the countdown continues with…
13th: Toni Kroos (335 points)
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Nationality: German (114 international matches, 17 goals)
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Main clubs: Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid
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Major trophies won: LaLiga (x4), Bundesliga (x3), Champions League (x6), UEFA Super Cup (x5), World Cup (x1)
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Important individual awards: German Footballer of the Year (x1), World All Star Championship (x1), European All Star Championship (x1)
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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, controlling play from the center of the park and always being precise, calm and efficient.
He remained at the top of his career until the final year of his career, winning a sixth Champions League crown in his final club match before hanging up his boots.
Fun fact
📸Carl Recine – 2024 Getty Images
The year 2014 was a perfect example of 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 with Real Madrid.
Watch it in action
How we voted
Thirty-eight members of OneFootball’s global editorial staff ranked their 25 best players of the 21st century to date. First place players 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.
📸 Engel Martinez – 2024 Getty Images
