Football stars re-open World Cup wounds in New Year's exchange

Real Madrid's Toni Kroos attempts to control the ball at the 2016 FIFA Club World Cup. Photo/AP Photos

Old scores don't die easily, apparently, when it comes to the football rivalry between Brazil and Germany.

Real Madrid star Toni Kroos celebrated the New Year on Twitter, with a shout-out that recalled his German national team's 7-1 semi-final victory over Brazil, en route to their 2014 Fifa World Cup triumph.

pic.twitter.com/m8nE0yAwsP

— Toni Kroos (@ToniKroos) December 31, 2016

Kroos' German fans loved the dig, retweeting it nearly 200,000 times, but others struggled to see the humour.

Brazil legend Ronaldo tagged Kroos in a Facebook post that paid homage to the South Americans' 2-0 win over Germany in the 2002 World Cup final.

Brazil football legend Ronaldo responds to a cheeky New Years tweet from German star Toni Kroos. Photo/Facebook

But it ended in good spirits, with Kroos seeking to make amends for any bruised egos.

A lot of attention for a little joke😀 Wish you all a safe and happy new year!

— Toni Kroos (@ToniKroos) January 1, 2017