Florian Wirtz has found himself at the center of attention for another reason after Toni Kroos made a sarcastic remark about the Liverpool midfielder.
Wirtz is currently going through a difficult period at club level. His performances have not yet reached the level expected of a player who arrived at Liverpool with a €125 million price tag.
Now, with another international break approaching, the Germany midfielder has also become the subject of a joke from one of the most respected figures in German football.
The exchange came during Toni Kroos and his brother Felix Kroos’ podcast, Einfach Mal Luppen, where the pair discussed potential additions to the Germany squad.
What initially sounded like an answer quickly turned into a sarcastic reference to several established Germany internationals, including Wirtz.
Florian Wirtz Still Searching for His Best Form
Wirtz’s second season at Liverpool has not started as he would have hoped.
The 23-year-old has made five appearances so far this season and has registered just one assist. His numbers have added to the pressure surrounding a player who arrived at Anfield with enormous expectations.
His first season in England was also difficult in terms of meeting those expectations.
Although Wirtz still managed to contribute seven goals and 10 assists in 49 appearances, his performances were frequently judged against the huge transfer fee Liverpool paid to sign him from Bayer Leverkusen.
The €125 million move immediately placed Wirtz under significant scrutiny.
His situation can be summarised through several key points:
- Wirtz is now in his second season with Liverpool.
- He has recorded one assist from five matches this season.
- His first Liverpool campaign produced seven goals and 10 assists in 49 appearances.
- Liverpool signed him from Bayer Leverkusen for €125 million.
- Expectations surrounding the Germany international remain high.
The numbers show that Wirtz has still contributed to Liverpool, but the current discussion is largely about whether he can reach the level expected from one of Germany’s most highly rated young players.
Pressure Also Followed Wirtz With Germany
The scrutiny has not been limited to Liverpool.
Wirtz also faced criticism following Germany’s campaign at the 2026 World Cup. Germany were eliminated earlier than expected, while Wirtz was among the players whose performances were considered below the level anticipated from him.
That has made the upcoming international break another important moment for the midfielder.
Germany are preparing for their next international fixtures, with new head coach Jurgen Klopp set to announce his first squad.
The selection process became one of the topics discussed by Toni Kroos and Felix Kroos on their podcast this week.
Their conversation eventually led directly to Wirtz’s name.
Toni Kroos Turns Florian Wirtz Into a Joke
During the podcast, Toni and Felix Kroos were challenged to name three players they would like to see included in the Germany squad.
There was one specific condition: the players had to be new faces who did not feature at the 2026 World Cup.
Toni Kroos responded by naming three players:
- Aleksandr Pavlovic
- Florian Wirtz
- Jamal Musiala
Felix immediately appeared confused because all three players had actually been part of Germany’s squad at the World Cup.
It did not take long for him to understand what his brother was doing.
The answer was clearly intended as a joke, with Toni using the three established internationals to make a sarcastic point about their visibility or contribution during Germany’s World Cup campaign.
“What? Which World Cup did you miss? Oh, because they weren’t visible?” Felix said, according to Sport Witness.
The exchange quickly became another talking point surrounding Wirtz.
Kroos Later Gives the Actual Names
After making the joke, Toni Kroos eventually provided three players who actually matched the conditions of the challenge.
His genuine selections were:
- Tom Bischof
- Lennart Karl
- Saïd El Mala
Felix Kroos, meanwhile, chose Yann Bisseck, Grischa Prommel and Kevin Schade.
The contrast between the joke and the actual selections was what gave the conversation its significance.
Rather than directly criticising Wirtz’s performances, Toni Kroos used humour to reference the fact that Wirtz had already been involved with Germany but had apparently failed to stand out enough during the World Cup.
From Germany’s Rising Star to a Punchline
The exchange highlights how quickly perceptions can change in elite football.
Wirtz entered the past few years with a reputation as one of Germany’s most exciting young talents. His performances for Bayer Leverkusen established him as a major prospect, eventually leading to his high-profile move to Liverpool.
However, life at one of Europe’s biggest clubs has brought a different level of scrutiny.
Every performance is analysed closely, while his transfer fee naturally adds another layer of expectation.
His current numbers have therefore become part of a wider conversation about whether Wirtz can reproduce his best form at Liverpool and for Germany.
Toni Kroos’ comments were delivered as a joke rather than a formal assessment of Wirtz. Nevertheless, the timing makes them particularly interesting because they come while the midfielder is already under pressure to rediscover his influence.
Wirtz Faces an Important Period Ahead
The upcoming international break could provide another opportunity for Wirtz to respond on the pitch.
With Jurgen Klopp preparing to announce his first Germany squad, attention will naturally turn to which players are selected and what role they will have.
For Wirtz, the situation is especially intriguing.
He remains an established Germany international and an important part of the generation expected to shape the national team’s future. At the same time, his recent performances have created questions that were far less prominent when he was starring for Bayer Leverkusen.
Toni Kroos’ sarcastic joke adds another layer to that discussion.
Ultimately, Wirtz’s response will come through his performances rather than comments from outside the pitch. His challenge is to regain consistency at Liverpool and demonstrate why he was considered one of Germany’s brightest talents.
For now, though, Florian Wirtz finds himself in an unfamiliar position: a player once widely celebrated for his potential has become the subject of a joke from one of Germany’s most decorated midfielders.
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