Kroos retires from football, Ronaldo to play sixth Euro

German midfielder Toni Kroos, who is currently with Spanish LaLiga leaders Real Madrid, announced on Tuesday that he will retire from the sport after the Euro 2024 this summer.

"My career as an active footballer will end this summer after the Euro championship. As I have always said: Real Madrid is and will be my last club," said the 34-year-old, who will make his curtain call for Real in the Champions League final on June 1 against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.

Kroos first joined Real in 2014 and has won 22 trophies with it, including four Champions League titles (2016, 2017, 2018, 2022) and four LaLiga titles (2017, 2020, 2022, 2024) across 463 appearances, which made him one of the most decorated players in the club's history. Prior to his prolific career in Spain, the German international had won the Champions League with Bayern Munich in 2013 and the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

"My ambition was always to finish my career at the peak of my performance level," explained Kroos after deciding against extending his contract with Real.

"I would particularly like to thank everyone that welcomed me with an open heart and trusted me. But especially I would like to thank you, dear Madridistas, for your affection and your love from the first day until the last one," said Kroos.

"Toni Kroos will remain forever in the hearts of every Madridista thanks to his mastery of the game and the fact he has given his all for our jersey, a steadfast example of the values of Real Madrid," reads the club's statement upon his departure.

Kroos made the 26-player list of hosts Germany for his last Euros campaign two days ago. He had previously announced retirement from international duty in 2021 and rejoined the national team in February this year.

Meanwhile, as the continental event draws near, teams including Portugal and England have also announced recently their rosters for this summer.

Portugal's mega star Cristiano Ronaldo will play in his sixth Euros at the age of 39 after Roberto Martinez announced his 26-player squad on Tuesday, which also included Pepe at 41 as the oldest player in the team.

Ronaldo scored in all five European Championships he played and netted in 14 goals in the finals, except for the one where they became champions for the first time in the event's history. In the 2016 final, Frenchman Dimitri Payet fouled on Ronaldo only eight minutes in and left him on the floor in agony, before a badly injured knee took the tearful Portugal captain out 25 minutes later.

Elsewhere, England manager Gareth Southgate named his provisional 33-man squad for Euro 2024. Manchester United's Marcus Rashford became the most high-profile player to miss the list, and England captain Harry Kane, after sustaining a recent back injury with Bayern Munich, is "pretty much clear now" according to Southgate.