Toni Kroos pays tribute to Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz: “You’re a very special player, on so many levels…you have more than just that certain something.”

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·11. August 2025

Toni Kroos pays tribute to Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz: “You’re a very special player, on so many levels…you have more than just that certain something.”

Artikelbild:Toni Kroos pays tribute to Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz: “You’re a very special player, on so many levels…you have more than just that certain something.”

In a guest piece for kicker, former Real Madrid and Germany midfielder Toni Kroos has paid tribute to Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz.

Kroos is writing in the magazine as Wirtz was voted Footballer of the Year for 2025 and succeeds Kroos, who won the award last year following his double-winning season with Madrid, before retiring last summer following Germany’s elimination at Euro 2024.

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Last season, Wirtz scored 10 goals and assisted 13 as Bayer Leverkusen finished runners-up to Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. The 22-year-old was also nominated for the Ballon d’Or.

In the opening paragraph in his ‘letter’ to Wirtz, Kroos said:

“You’re a very special player, on so many levels. When I first saw you play football, I immediately noticed that you have more than just that certain something. Your sense of moving in the right spaces, your first touch, your final pass, and even your finishing—everything is special. And then there’s your mentality! You have the conviction in your own qualities, and you radiate that. You don’t take any nonsense—you carry a small but incredibly important portion of arrogance within you, which I hope you never let go of.”

Later adding:

“In my opinion, you’ve done everything right by moving to Liverpool FC, and it’s underpinning your mindset and conviction.”

Wirtz has begun his Liverpool career with an assist to ex-Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitiké in the Community Shield loss to Crystal Palace on Sunday. On Friday, the 22-year-old is expected to make his Premier League debut against Bournemouth at Anfield.

GGFN | Jack Meenan