Kroos returns to play for Real Madrid

Corazón Classic Match Day. A day of celebration. A day of reunions—between players and fans, between Real Madrid legends and the new generations who come, wide-eyed, to see their idols, and the idols of their parents and grandparents. The same legends whose stories of triumphs and heartbreaks have been passed down through 123 years of history, dating back to the club’s first official match in 1902.

It’s a celebration of a club where players come and go, each leaving their mark—some deeper than others—but all contributing to a legacy defined by perseverance and success. A legacy that has taken Los Blancos to the top of the European Cup–Champions League standings with 15 titles.

Some of those legendary players will once again don the white jersey in this latest edition of the Corazón Classic Match: Toni Kroos, Pepe, Marcelo, and Raphaël Varane. Symbols of an era that saw Real Madrid win six Champions Leagues in 11 seasons.

Kroos, in particular, is one of the most admired and beloved players among Madridistas—like the other three—and returns to the Santiago Bernabéu 378 days after departing at the end of the 2023–24 La Liga season (465 games and 28 goals). His absence has been felt throughout the current campaign.

The announcement of his return—shared personally on his social media—created a sensation and quickly sold out the stadium. In a curious twist of fate, Kroos returns to face Borussia Dortmund, the last team he played against in white, in the 2024 Champions League final at Wembley on June 1.

Marcelo (546 matches, 38 goals), Pepe (334, 15), and Varane (360, 17) also return to the pitch—three defenders revered by fans, coming home once more. They’ll be joined by other legends such as Butragueño, Buyo, Roberto Carlos, Julio Baptista, and many more—players who helped secure the last nine Champions League trophies. All of them will be wearing Real Madrid’s new kit for the upcoming season, which was unveiled yesterday.

Facing them: the legends of Borussia Dortmund. One of the elite clubs that can proudly display a “Big Ears” trophy in its cabinet—and, most recently, Real Madrid’s opponent in the 2024 Champions League final at Wembley. A celebration of their legends too.