Toni Kroos once admitted he was "forbidden" from citing Lionel Messi as the greatest player ever, but looks to have changed his tune.
The Real Madrid midfielder, like much of the footballing world, watched on Sunday as the Argentine icon finally claimed the World Cup. It was the last prize he was yet to win, but the forward produced a sensational display as he led his team to glory in Qatar in dramatic circumstances.
For many, it ends the debate over who is the game's greatest. Kroos for many years played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, who endured a poor tournament as he ponders his next move after leaving Manchester. The German saw Ronaldo score with regularity as they teamed up to win a hat-trick of Champions Leagues.
