The agent of Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has hit out at the awarding of Philipp Lahm as German Player of the Year.

Volker Struth insists the decision was clearly based on emotion and not merit, with Lahm retiring from Bayern Munich.

"Philipp Lahm has achieved many successes and achievements for German football, there is no one doubt... but if a football magazine asks members of the Association of sports journalists to choose the 'footballer of the year 2017', it should be honored. There is no doubt, the best was Toni Kroos," said Struth.

"The emotional criteria should not be decisive, it is a personal opinion, but many representatives, both in the Bundesliga and abroad, have confirmed to me that they have this thought 'Philipp Lahm is an exceptional player, of course, but giving him the Player of the Year award makes the award absurd'."