Toni Kroos says Real Madrid found courage to overcome Barcelona and explains Harry Kane’s Ballon d’Or edge

Toni Kroos believes Jose Mourinho played a major part in Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory over Barcelona in their latest Clasico, while also saying Harry Kane’s lack of a public Ballon d’Or campaign helped distinguish him from his main rivals.

Speaking on the EINFACH MAL LUPPEN podcast with his brother Felix, the former Real Madrid midfielder praised the work done by Mourinho in changing the team’s approach against their traditional rivals.

Barcelona had enjoyed the better of the previous six or seven meetings between the clubs, according to Kroos, and Real Madrid had conceded heavily in those matches. That record meant expectations were not particularly high before the game.

Kroos said Real Madrid showed greater courage both in possession and without the ball. He praised the side’s organisation and pressing, which forced Barcelona players including Pedri and Raphinha into mistakes that were unusual for them.

He also felt Real Madrid won many of the individual battles and were able to expose Barcelona when the Catalan side could not impose its usual control on the game.

Kroos regrets Vinicius Junior absence

Kroos said he regretted Vinicius Junior’s absence from the Clasico, particularly because of the space Joao Cancelo left behind him. He believed the Brazilian forward’s pace and ability to attack open areas could have caused Barcelona significant problems.

The former Germany international also described the speed of Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe as an invaluable asset for Real Madrid’s midfielders.

He said both players could create a decisive advantage because they were capable of moving three steps faster than the defenders marking them. Finding them in space, he added, gave Real Madrid an exceptional attacking weapon. Kroos also highlighted the understanding between Arda Guler and Mbappe.

Despite his praise for Real Madrid, Kroos acknowledged that Barcelona were the superior team in terms of possession and control. However, he said they could struggle when their pressing failed to win the ball back and they were forced to defend.

World Cup shaped Ballon d’Or vote

Kroos also discussed Harry Kane’s victory in the 2026 Ballon d’Or voting. He described the contest as unusually open because of the closeness of the candidates’ performances and the significant influence of the World Cup on the final decision.

He said the tournament carried exceptional weight in the voting. Had the award been judged on the club season alone, Kroos said his preferred choice would have been Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, whom he regarded as the best player in Europe’s best team, referring to Paris Saint-Germain’s achievements.

Kvaratskhelia finished sixth after helping Paris Saint-Germain win a historic treble, but Georgia failed to qualify for the World Cup, which Kroos believed reduced his chances.

Kroos added that Mbappe would not have finished in the top five without his World Cup involvement, while Lamine Yamal would also have struggled to reach those positions had Spain not won the tournament.

He said Kane was the only leading contender who had not launched a campaign for the award in advance. Kane won after scoring 73 goals for club and country during the 2025-2026 season, helping Bayern Munich secure a domestic treble and reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.