Real Madrid Still Seeking Toni Kroos’ Heir in Midfield as Search Continues

Real Madrid has yet to find a true successor to Toni Kroos in midfield. The legendary German playmaker announced his retirement while still performing at an elite level, following a season where he played a key role in Real Madrid’s La Liga and Champions League successes in 2023/24.

While the club continues to be a dominant force in both La Liga and the Champions League, recently eliminating Manchester City for the third time in four seasons, there is a noticeable absence in midfield without Kroos.

Real Madrid no longer enjoys the same level of control over matches without him. Although Luka Modric’s creativity, Dani Ceballos’ progressive passing, and Jude Bellingham’s flair have helped fill the gap, there is still a void when it comes to having a metronomic controller—a true midfield “director” who can orchestrate play with Kroos’ level of precision. This absence is especially evident against teams that apply high-energy midfield pressure and disrupt possession.

Bellingham, in particular, has had to take on extra responsibility, sacrificing much of his attacking instincts to support defensively and maintain possession. As expected, Real Madrid did not have a natural internal candidate to replace Kroos, and externally, players with even a semblance of Kroos’ unique style are incredibly rare. In fact, it’s difficult to imagine anyone in football’s history truly capable of replicating what Kroos brought to the team.