Soccer Icons Neymar and Kroos Lead Global Stars in Celebrating Alcaraz's French Open Triumph

With European football seasons having concluded, sports enthusiasts have been seeking alternative entertainment – at least until the Club World Cup commences on June 14.

Those who watched the French Open final were treated to an extraordinary spectacle – witnessing what many consider one of tennis's greatest matches ever played.

In an incredible five-set marathon lasting over five-and-a-half hours, Spain's Carlos Alcaraz mounted a remarkable comeback from two sets down – surviving multiple championship points – to triumph over Jannik Sinner, securing his second straight Roland Garros championship and the fifth Grand Slam title of his burgeoning career.

Following this epic victory, congratulations poured in for the 22-year-old sensation, including messages from football's elite players and clubs who were evidently following the match.

Real Madrid, Alcaraz's favorite club, led the tributes with a statement: "All madridistas are happy and proud of this brilliant success achieved by one of our own."

Former Real midfielder Toni Kroos reshared a 2022 photograph of himself with Alcaraz – originally captioned "The future. And me." – now adding a confident addendum: "Told you."

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois posted an image of Alcaraz on his Instagram Stories with the caption: "Brutal." Vinícius Jr. also shared an image of the Spanish champion lifting the trophy, simply writing: "Locura"—meaning "Madness" in Spanish.

Additionally, Brazilian superstar Neymar Jr. – whom Alcaraz has previously mentioned as one of his favorite athletes – extended his congratulations, as did Tottenham and England forward Dominic Solanke.

Interestingly, one notable absence from the wave of congratulatory messages was the Spanish national football team.

Despite being seen before their match gathered around a phone watching Alcaraz's final, the squad ended their evening disappointingly – losing to Portugal on penalties in the UEFA Nations League final – and neither the team nor its players publicly acknowledged their compatriot's achievement.

While the silence from his fellow Spaniards might have seemed unusual, it likely won't concern Alcaraz – considering the overwhelming praise he received from virtually everyone else in the sporting community.