Kruse proudly presents his Olympic medal - special message to Kuntz and Zverev

Olympic star Max Kruse shows a medal after returning to Germany despite early retirement - a personal message to Kuntz and Zverev.

Munich / Tokyo - The German footballers * had to end their adventure at the Olympics * in the first week and start their journey home.

After the 1-1 draw in the last preliminary round match against Ivory Coast on Wednesday, the premature end in Japan was sealed.

Only two days later, Max Kruse speaks back in Germany.

The striker draws a remarkable record and even presented a medal despite being eliminated early.

Olympia: Max Kruse celebrates medal and raves about a unique experience

“It's not a gold medal, but at least there was a small medal, namely the so-called participant medal,” explains the 33-year-old with a little pride on Instagram.

In a black box, Kruse presents a gold medal on which “Team D” and the five Olympic rings are engraved.

The medal is attached to a loop in black, red and gold.

Kruse seems to have already ticked off the disappointing performance of the German team and remembers the positive things about the Olympics.

"Even if we unfortunately could not achieve the result we had hoped for, it was still an experience that you will probably only have once in a lifetime", the star of Union Berlin * looks back.

He was particularly impressed by the Olympic spirit and the atmosphere on site.

"The Olympic village was just awesome: It was really fun to get to know athletes, the entry ceremony and the organization were great," enthused Kruse.

"I think everyone has done their part to ensure that Tokyo was and is a really unbelievably awesome experience."

Video: Max Kruse proposes marriage to his girlfriend live on TV

Olympia: Kruse sends a special greeting to tennis ace Zverev and DFB trainer Kuntz

"I wish all athletes who still have competitions ahead of them all, all the best and good luck that you can bring as many medals as possible to Germany," said Kruse, who will now follow the decisions in Japan from his home in Berlin . He especially congratulated tennis ace Alexander Zverev * on making it to the final. Zverev is fighting for gold in Tokyo and already has silver for sure.

Olympic trainer Stefan Kuntz * also received warm words of thanks: “I wanted to take the opportunity to thank Stefan Kuntz and his team once again for giving me the chance to attend the Olympic Games . ” Kruse did not use this opportunity for precious metal, instead he seized the unique chance of his girlfriend to propose marriage * in front of an audience of millions on German television. Recently, however, there was also confusion because of an alleged affair *.