Toni Kroos Retirement Raises Questions about Impact on Real Madrid’s Performance #

Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos recently announced his retirement, prompting discussions about his impact on the team’s performance. Observers have noticed a peculiar pattern in Real Madrid’s matches: whenever Kroos is substituted, the team tends to score and make comebacks. However, analyzing Kroos’s overall influence is challenging due to various factors in football. Traditional player impact metrics like plus-minus and on-off stats can be misleading in a low-scoring sport with fewer substitutions. Adjusted plus-minus models are being explored to better evaluate a player’s contribution beyond on-ball statistics. Different models offer varying assessments of Kroos, but the debate surrounding his impact remains inconclusive.