Toni Kroos made a comment that instantly became a global talking point. When asked to name his all time dream team, the Real Madrid legend didn’t just pick three Brazilian stars, he also included Lionel Messi, the biggest symbol of Barcelona, in the lineup. For one of the most influential players in Real Madrid’s recent history, that choice carries both emotional and technical weight and shows a perspective far broader than the rivalry usually allows.
The weight of the choices and the impact behind each name
Kroos’s ideal team has Manuel Neuer in goal and a backline with Lahm, Sergio Ramos, Maldini and Marcelo. In midfield, Modric, Zidane and Messi. And up front, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo Fenômeno and Cristiano Ronaldo. The list is impressive on talent alone, but even more impressive for the courage it takes. Kroos could’ve built a safe lineup filled only with former teammates or politically correct picks, something a lot of people in the soccer world do to avoid backlash. Instead, he followed his own technical instinct, the same one that defined his entire career.
Messi’s presence stands out for obvious reasons. Kroos lived through the height of the Real Madrid and Barcelona rivalry and faced Messi in some of Spain’s fiercest nights. Even after spending so many years alongside Cristiano, the German didn’t hesitate to place the Argentine in his all time midfield. That choice shows pure admiration and a reading of the game that stays far from the ego driven debates fans love to amplify. It’s another reminder that Kroos always analyzed the sport with a level of distance and clarity that few players manage to maintain.
The inclusion of the Brazilian stars reveals another side of him, his appreciation for players who shaped his view of the game. Marcelo was his teammate for years at Real Madrid, and Kroos knows better than most how gifted and intelligent the left back is. Ronaldinho and Ronaldo, even without ever playing alongside him, shaped generations and remain global references, genuine legends. Kroos grew up watching their impact and kept that in mind when building his ideal eleven.
The choice of Ancelotti and the meaning behind it
Kroos completed the team by choosing Carlo Ancelotti as coach. The decision says as much as the players themselves. The German worked under Guardiola, one of the most influential coaches of the century, but still prefers Ancelotti, with whom he won three Champions League titles and some of the biggest trophies of his career. It’s not a technical comparison, it’s about trust, environment, collective understanding and the ability to turn a roster full of stars into a functional team. And it’s hard to forget how essential Kroos was to Real Madrid, to the point that after his retirement, Ancelotti and the club struggled without someone with his profile.
In the end, Kroos’s all time XI works almost like a mirror. It reflects his references, his values as a player and the way he sees the game. And among so many giants, the detail that bothers purists the most stands right in the middle, a Barcelona icon surrounded by Real Madrid legends. Not to mention the fact that Kroos didn’t even include himself, even though he’s one of the biggest references in his position.