Mikel: I Was Better Than Toni Kroos
Ex-Chelsea star questions German's legacy despite six Champions League titles
Former Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi has sparked debate after boldly claiming he was a better player than German midfielder Toni Kroos.
Mikel, who spent 11 years at Chelsea and retired in 2022 at the age of 35, won 11 major trophies at Stamford Bridge, including two Premier League titles and one UEFA Champions League crown.
The Nigerian, now 38, began his career as an exciting attacking midfielder before José Mourinho converted him into a defensive anchor, a shift many believe altered the trajectory of his career.
Kroos, meanwhile, retired in 2024 at 34 after a glittering spell with Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, amassing 34 major honors including six Champions League titles, six FIFA Club World Cups, four La Liga titles, and three Bundesliga crowns.
Despite Kroos being widely regarded as one of the finest midfielders of his generation, celebrated for his passing range and set-piece delivery, Mikel dismissed the German’s reputation as inflated by his association with Real Madrid.
‘Toni Kroos is an average midfielder. I was a better player than him to be honest. The only difference was that I didn’t play for Real Madrid and I think we need to change this mentality of thinking anyway, player who plays for Real Madrid is better than others,’ Mikel was quoted as saying by Everything Soccer.
He went further, questioning the value of Kroos’ trophy haul.
‘When you see that players like Kroos, Nacho, Carvajal and Modric won 5 UCLs it is a bit unfair, because these players are not even close to being the best in their positions. This shows that trophies can be misleading. I can name 10 players in the same positions that are better than these footballers.’
