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'Best in the world'

Is Real Madrid star Toni Kroos the best midfielder on the planet? Just check out his stats from the Super Cup final in Skopje

REAL MADRID utterly outclassed Manchester United as they got their hands on the Super Cup in Skopje on Tuesday night.

The La Liga giants looked in total control for much of the game in Macedonia, as Casemiro and Isco put Zinedine Zidane and Co 2-0 up.

 Toni Kroos helped lead Real Madrid to Super Cup glory on Tuesday night
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Toni Kroos helped lead Real Madrid to Super Cup glory on Tuesday nightCredit: Instagram @toni.kr8s
 Madrid star Toni Kroos put in yet another effective, understated performance
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Madrid star Toni Kroos put in yet another effective, understated performanceCredit: PA:Press Association

Romelu Lukaku scored just after the hour mark to make things interesting, but in truth it was always looking like a win for Real.

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With the focus all on stars such as Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo, who came on as a late substitute, there was one player who flew under the radar.

In fact, this player is quite often dubbed as one of the world's most underrated stars... Toni Kroos.

Not a flashy player, not a "hogging the limelight" sort of footballer, the German international could easily be dubbed the best central midfielder on the planet.

Signed by Madrid from Bayern Munich for just £20million back in 2014, he's also not one to light up the transfer market.

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 Toni Kroos continues to be one of the world football's most underrated stars
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Toni Kroos continues to be one of the world football's most underrated starsCredit: Rex Features

Unlike Paul Pogba's £89m move to United last year or Neymar's world-record shattering £198m move to Paris Saint-Germain, Kroos' move was as understated yet brilliant as the player himself.

An elegant player on the ball, the German's vision and passing ability are unparalleled - and he showed that in full force on Tuesday night.

In fact, of the 76 passes he sprayed by himself against United, he completed an astonishing 73 of them, for a success rate of 96 per cent.

 Toni Kroos completed an astonishing 96 per cent of his 76 passes on Tuesday
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Toni Kroos completed an astonishing 96 per cent of his 76 passes on TuesdayCredit: Getty

But it's not just the accuracy, it's the dynamism of those passes.

Kroos doesn't simply make a pass for the sake of it, as 26.3 per cent of his passes went forwards.

Meanwhile, only 18.3 per cent went backwards, displaying the German's ability to get more creative players such as Bale or Isco involved ahead of him.

 Real Madrid incredibly signed Tony Kroos for just £20million in 2014
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Real Madrid incredibly signed Tony Kroos for just £20million in 2014Credit: Getty

While Kroos continues to be snubbed for the plaudits in favour of the "flashier" names, his performance on Tuesday wasn't missed by a select few fans.

One even called him the "Best In The World" in a post on social media.

Here's what Twitter had to say on Kroos' performance in Real Madrid's 2-1 Super Cup win over Man United...



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