According to a report by Manchesterevening News on Wednesday October 21, 2026, Former Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has named Casemiro among football’s greatest midfielders, placing the former Manchester United player third on his all-time list while overlooking club legend Paul Scholes.

Scholes remains one of the Premier League’s most celebrated midfielders, having made 717 appearances for United, scoring 155 goals and providing 84 assists during his distinguished career at Old Trafford.

The Englishman also won 11 Premier League titles, establishing himself as a central figure during Sir Alex Ferguson’s successful reign. However, Kroos believes another former United midfielder deserves greater recognition for his achievements.

Casemiro enjoyed remarkable success alongside Kroos and Luka Modric at Real Madrid, forming a powerful midfield partnership that helped the Spanish giants dominate European football and collect numerous major trophies.

During his Madrid career, the Brazilian won five Champions League titles, three La Liga championships and one Copa del Rey before completing his high-profile transfer to Manchester United in 2022.

Speaking on the Einfach mal Luppen podcast, Kroos revealed his admiration for the defensive midfielder, explaining why he deserved a place among football’s all-time elite.

“My number three is Casemiro, although PatrickPatrick Vieira was also in contention,” the German World Cup winner said.

Kroos further explained that Casemiro’s importance to the team was sometimes overlooked by people outside the club, despite his impressive achievements and influence on matches.

“Of course. If you look at his achievements, the type of player he is and how important he was to the team — something that was sometimes a little underestimated from the outside — he certainly deserves recognition,” Kroos added.

The former Real Madrid star also highlighted Casemiro’s technical development, which became increasingly evident throughout their years playing together in Spain.

“What he gave both of us was obvious, of course, but seeing how much he developed technically over those years was also fantastic,” Kroos explained.

Casemiro made 160 appearances for Manchester United, scoring 26 goals and recording 14 assists. He also won the League Cup and FA Cup before leaving for Inter Miami on a free transfer.