Is Real Madrid star Toni Kroos the best midfielder in Europe?

A moment of magic by Toni Kroos provided Real Madrid the lead over Bayern Munich on Tuesday. But Kroos' underlying numbers indicate that the Real star might be the best in Europe right now.

It was the 24th minute between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid when Toni Kroos controlled the ball in midfield, looked up briefly, and then played a perfect ball to Vinicius Jr. that would lead to the game's opening goal. That goal, scored against the run of play, epitomizes everything that Real Madrid is about and further underlines that Kroos might be the best midfielder in Europe.

Sure, we can talk until the cows come home about how Bayern could have defended this play better. Indeed, Min-Jae Kim looked poor, Joshua Kimmich was pulled out of possession, and perhaps Manuel Neuer could have come off his line earlier. But no other player than this version of Kroos would have been able to play this ball.

“I saw that Bayern’s center-backs were always following Vini Jr., and I know he always makes runs into that space,” Kroos said after the game. “He opened the space. The pass was okay, I guess.”

In many ways, it is a typical Kroos statement. Vincius Jr. may have been voted the player of the game, but while the Brazilian scored the goals, that brilliant moment by the German midfielder ultimately led to Real escaping with a draw from the Allianz Arena.