2) Toni Kroos (Germany) – 2007
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Germany have never won the U-17 World Cup but they have come close on a couple of occasions. In 2007, when Germany finished third behind champions Nigeria and Spain, a young midfielder named Toni Kroos took home the Bronze Shoe for his five goals (tied with Bojan Krkic) and also the Golden Ball.
Kroos has since played for the U-19, U-21 and the senior team, winning the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. It was at Bayern Munich where he developed into one of the finest central midfielders with a devastating first touch. With the versatility to play across midfield either as a deep-lying playmaker or a box-to-box midfielder and an incredible set-piece ability.
After winning everything he could with Bayern, Kroos made the move to Real Madrid where he won the Champions League for a second time last season. With a vision that saw praise from the likes of Johan Cruyff, Kroos is a wanted man across Europe and it is no wonder then why Real Madrid’s move for the German was called one of the biggest coups in recent years.
