Kroos and Reus experience the entirety of their professional journeys in just 90 minutes.

In 90 minutes, Kroos and Reus experience their whole playing careers.

Borussia Dortmund came close to defeating Real Madrid, but in the end, the Champions League final ended in a familiar outcome: Toni Kroos celebrates while Marco Reus is sent off. At London's Wembley Stadium, two German footballers' careers collide in a tense, dramatic match.

In the 72nd minute, a substitution served as the turning point for one of these stories. Mats Hummels shared on ZDF how they imagined things going: Reus would've come on for Dortmund, receiving the ball at the right moment to score the winning goal in this big game. However, this story didn't play out in reality.

Two minutes after Reus joined the action, a goal was indeed scored - by Real Madrid. Toni Kroos was the architect of this goal. As Reus faced continued criticism for underachievement in this 0:2 defeat, Kroos claimed yet another Champions League title with Real Madrid. It's the sixth title for the 34-year-old, who is retiring after a decade with the Royals this summer.

The 90 minutes in London offered a snapshot of the contrasting careers of these two German stars who initially appeared destined for great things. Reus, a two-time DFB Cup winner, never captured a league title or European Cup, and he was injured ahead of the 2014 World Cup. In contrast, Kroos boasted a wealth of titles: 7 leagues, 6 Champions League, and now one more to add to his trophy case.

"Thank God we pulled it off," Kroos said following the match, acknowledging that Dortmund might've taken the lead in the first half. But when it comes to Real Madrid, they always manage to score, even when they aren't playing their best. Since they lost in the 1981 European Cup final, Real has been in nine finals, winning them all. Against Valencia, Bayer Leverkusen, even twice against Juventus Turin and Atletico Madrid and Liverpool.

This time, it was against Borussia Dortmund. Dortmund's advantage in the scoreline remained unnoticed. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois once again thwarted any significant attempts by the BVB. And Toni Kroos' corner kick in the 74th minute provided the perfect set-up for Dani Carvajal to head in the winning goal. The 1.73-meter player brushed aside Ian Maatsen, and Niclas Füllkrug and Mats Hummels could not prevent the seemingly natural outcome: Real Madrid takes home another big win, while Dortmund endures their third defeat in the century (in the UEFA Cup against Feyenoord Rotterdam and the 2013 Champions League against Bayern Munich).

"This title means so much to me," Kroos said after the game, appreciating the final victory's significance. He was embraced by fans and coach Carlo Ancelotti, who is stepping down from his position at the end of the season. The emotional farewell scenes had taken place the previous weekend at home in Santiago Bernabéu, and he devoted significant effort to focus on this match against Dortmund. The cheers of "Toni, Toni" reflected his success. Around the Real bench, teammates yearned for one more embrace, and as the final whistle blew, Kroos and David Alaba shared a warm, joyful exchange.

The Final Turns as Reus Leaves the Field

"He couldn't have prevented it any better," Ancelotti highlights Kroos' contributions not only at this match but throughout his ten-year run with the Royals. A club legend, "all Real Madrid fans are thankful for what he's done for this club." The 465th game in his iconic white jersey marked his last; he had close to the same amount of titles (23) as goals he had scored (28). The legendary Bayern of the 1970s with Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Müller, and Sepp Maier had held the unofficial German record with three European Cup victories. Kroos has now won the highest European club competition twice as often as any other German footballer.

The number 8 of the Madrileños couldn't stop smiling, while Dortmund's number 11, Marco Reus, opted for a quiet departure. Reus avoided the microphones, possibly wanting to be alone with his disappointment and the emotions that followed. The narrative that Hummels & Co. had hoped for didn't pan out, as sporting director Sebastian Kehl said, "Unfortunately, today marked Reus' last game for Dortmund. We would've loved nothing more than to lift the cup together with him; he deserved it." Yet, this final took a turn shortly after Reus' substitution, continuing his tragic tale of heartbreak during crucial moments.

It took a while for us to build a better team, Toni Kroos mentioned later, highlighting one of the remarkable qualities of Real Madrid. These Royals don't typically overpower their opponents but instead draw them out for a high-pressure situation before pouncing. The first instance was when Kroos sent in a perfect corner kick, and the second was when a disastrous pass by Jude Bellingham, a former Dortmund player, created a 2-on-1 scenario some 25 meters from Dortmund's goal. Bellingham passed behind Hummels to Vinicius Junior, who celebrated before finishing the 2-0 in the far corner (83.).

Kroos was then replaced, receiving a round of applause, and holding up his fists in triumph. Dortmund had since been pushing hard but could barely challenge Real Madrid. Füllkrug's supposed equalizer looked offside in the 87th minute. Reus unwillingly left the squad, possibly for the first time in a career that might even take him outside of Germany.

Conversely, Kroos made his way back to Germany with a different aim - to score his second major achievement of the season after a successful stint at Real Madrid. With the national team, they excitedly await the 34-year-old's return, as his remarkable comeback in March and subsequent victories against France and the Netherlands fueled expectations for a yellow-black European Championship title.

The Coupe Henri Delaunay, the trophy for the European champion, is one of the few titles Kroos hasn't yet won. Maybe in Herzogenaurach in the coming days, yet another unforgettable story only football can create will unfold.