Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos has passed on the torch to Fede Valverde to take over the iconic number 8 shirt of Real Madrid. The German legend is now departing the club and with his departure, the number 8 will be vacant, and the vacancy will be filled by the Uruguayan midfielder. The announcement was made during Real Madrid's UEFA Champions League trophy parade, as they won this year's edition after defeating Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in the final.
"I have a question Madridistas! At the moment, my number 8 is free. I am handing my number to this guy, Fede Valverde," said Toni Kroos during the bus parade.
A Moment Of History For Carlo Ancelotti, And Four Horsemen Of Real Madrid
Carlo Ancelotti too achieved an iconic feat, as he has now won 7 UEFA Champions League titles (2 as a player, and 5 as a manager). However, wih the 15th title for Real Madrid, and 6th in the past 10 years, the Los Blancos have achieved an iconic feat as Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Dani Carvajal, and Nacho have joined Real Madrid legend Francisco Gento as the only men to have acquired 6 UEFA Champions League winners' medals.
Francisco Gento did it with the 'Golden Team' of Real Madrid who won the first five European Cups in a row, and the UEFA Champions League, before its rebranding in 1992, was known as the European Cup. Luka Modric, Dani Carvajal, and Nacho won 6 UEFA Champions League titles with Real Madrid (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2024), whereas, the 'German sniper' Toni Kroos won 5 titles with Real Madrid (2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2024) and one title with Bayern Munich (2013), as he joined the Los Blancos in the summer of 2014.
Only if he had joined the La Liga giants during 2013/14, the German legend would have become the first ever player in the history with 7 UCL titles as a player.