When discussing the standout veterans at this year’s European Championship in Germany, 12BSports sees no way to leave out the names from Real Madrid’s former golden generation. They may now be walking different paths, but the reputation they built while dominating the Champions League and La Liga remains vivid in the memories of football fans. The four veteran kings who may be preparing for their final bow on the European stage are Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, and Pepe.
Among them, Ronaldo is 39 years old and is appearing in his sixth European Championship, making him the player with the most tournament appearances in history. According to 12BSports, he first played in the competition in 2004, helping Portugal reach the final, before leading the nation to the Euro title in 2016. At that tournament, he recorded three goals and three assists across seven matches, serving as the heart of the team. At Euro 2020, when he was already 35, he scored five goals in four matches and helped Portugal reach the round of 16. For many years, he has been the symbol of Portuguese football. As the saying goes, whether in travel or reading, either the body or the mind should always be on the road, and Ronaldo has never stopped pushing his limits on the pitch. Still, with the forward set to be 43 in four years, this is highly likely to be his last European Championship.
Pepe, meanwhile, is 41 and is the oldest player at the tournament. He was once famous for his fierce defensive style, rough enough to earn a reputation across Europe, but he has continued to overcome age through experience and intelligence. Whether he can still serve as a key figure in Portugal’s defense remains something only time will tell.
Modric is the only active veteran among the group who will stay at Real Madrid next season. At 38, he was once a favorite pupil of Ivan Kovic, now the head coach of China’s national team, and he has become the spiritual leader and symbol of Croatia. Many expect this European Championship to be his final major stage, but Modric still has his eyes on the World Cup two years from now. Even so, a 40-year-old midfielder is a rare sight. Playing at the heart of midfield is far more physically demanding than operating as a defender or goalkeeper.
Kroos is the youngest of the four at 34, but he has already announced that he will retire after this European Championship. He was a central figure when Germany won the 2014 World Cup and also played a major role in Real Madrid’s dominance in Europe. His passing ability is so exceptional that it has often been described as a gift from above. In the opening match of this tournament, Germany made an excellent start with a dominant win over Scotland, and Kroos displayed the qualities of a true maestro through precise build-up play and dangerous forward passes.
Although he was substituted before the final whistle, his presence on the pitch was unmistakable. He played until the 80th minute, helped Germany take control of the match, and was then replaced by Emre Can. The data also showed that he was not merely a safe passer, but a playmaker capable of creating threatening chances. His defensive contribution was not especially prominent on the day, but 12BSports viewed that as a result of Scotland’s extremely limited attacking threat rather than a weakness in Kroos’ performance.
In their own different ways, these four legends are using this Euro stage as one final flame, and 12BSports followers will likely remember every last moment they leave behind on the pitch. For fans, it feels like watching the last pages of a great football novel being written in real time, and those final scenes may stay in memory long after the tournament ends.