A Croatian has lifted the Champions League trophy each season for the last 9 years, and 36 year-old Luka Modrić has the opportunity to extend that streak to 10 on Saturday as Real Madrid face Liverpool in the grand finale in Paris. Modrić will also be looking to win his fifth Champions League title, passing Xavi and Iniesta’s totals of four.
Modrić has done it all this campaign, making runs across the entire pitch, chasing Messi and De Bruyne down with ease, and assisting with the outside of his boot. Without his midfield magic, Madrid would have dropped out of the tournament long ago against PSG, as Modrić’s performance propelled the squad to victory. Modrić then provided two assists over two legs against Chelsea, the second being dubbed “assist of the century” by many fans around the world. The 2018 Balon d’ Or winner is making a serious case for the “UEFA Midfielder of the Year” award and possibly even more.
As previously stated, Modrić is on the verge of owning more UCL cups than Xavi and Iniesta, and already has more than Zidane, Pirlo, and Matthäus. With a win on Saturday, it’s safe to say that Modrić deserves to sit at the head of the “top midfielders of all time” table. No one does it like Luka. Instead of moving to Qatar, Japan, or the MLS, Luka is still dominating his competition in La Liga, European competition, and on the international stage. One can use many words to describe his career to this point: unreal, magical, legendary, etc. But what he has done is undescribable, neopisivo.
Croatia has swiftly become a football powerhouse nation throughout the last decade. The present state of Croatian football is gold, and the future is platinum. At this point, it wouldn’t feel right to see a Champions League trophy hoisted without checkers on the field. Will Luka continue Croatia’s dominance in European football this weekend, or even better, put his name on the scoresheet? At this rate, it’s looking very likely.
Modric should take the Ballon D’or again this year. He has outclassed every opponent and contributed so much to wins. If Madrid win the CL there is no doubt that he deserves the Ballon D’or.
I think it’s a close one. But even Modric said that Benzema should win the Balloon D’or this year. I think Benzema should, even though I want Modric to take it. If Modric does something insane like score a hat trick in the final then sure I would give him Balloon D’or. But otherwise, based on assists in La Liga, based on goals scored in La Liga and Champions League, I think Benzema deserves it.
Don’t get me wrong Modric definitely has put them back in the game many times, and the Marca Leyenda award he recieved is more than deserved at this stage.
No way benzema doesn’t get it
Luka has played lights out but benzema has been out of this world
Somewhere Ronaldo is plotting his revenge on Madrid
Benzema has just had an exceptional season I think it is very difficult at this point to say he is not deserving of the award.
The unfortunate part is when they cancelled it during the pandemic you could have argued that Lewy deserved it then. Not sure why they cancelled.
It feels like it’s real’s year
Beating the champs
And the big oil teams
They are an underdog
With Barca struggling, people have been mocking la liga
Luka is luka, he for sure is capable of a bad game but he is truly built for these. Let’s hope he has one of the best days of his career and controls the midfield and who knows maybe some more magic
If he plays like this, as we all know any player at this level can change the course of a game but him and of course benzema are just absolute game changers
Keep the streak going!!!
Plus we all know losing lovren just decimated their defence;)
Funny, i just watched a clip of Lovren being consoled by Kovacic, after Real beat Liverpool in the 2017/18 final. Poor Dejan.
Luka kralj.
Alittle off topic did you see albania has a 4 star uefa stadium ma Hns is a disapointment. Third olace second place dinamo strong in europe ove past years this is ridiculous that we dont have newer stadiums all over croatia.
Skolje has a beautiful stadium.
Maksimir needs to be blown up
Poljud renevated update
Osijek who knows when pampas will be done
Gradski vrt was supost to be renovated never happened rujevica is not a stadion thats a field.
Its so embarrassing for a power house like croatia
Alot of these countries are sketch though, and most (if not all of it) is done using dirty money or taxpayer dollars.
Pampas stadium in Osijek looks like it will be a nice one. Built with dirty Hungarian mafia money, lol. But it will be a good one.
I agree that Maksimir needs to be fully rebuilt. That stadium is pure garbage.
Poljud needs to be fully renovated (but keep the location and design intact). Same for Kantrida.
Tirana’s stadium was built with a significant amount of UEFA money, through their “Hat Trick” program for underdeveloped nations….so there is some backstory, but damn the stadium is a beauty. Croatia needs and deserves a better home – imagine the noise and intimidation that could happen in a tight 30K stadium with no track….unbeatable
Ancelotti has realized that you can’t start Kroos and Modrić together anymore. In many ways it parallels the Rakitic retirement from the national team.
Valverde needs to come into the midfield along with Rodrygo on the right wing.
Camavinga also needs to play meaningful minutes.
The point is if you want the Luka magic you need to free up Modrić with some of those defensive responsibilities.
Against Liverpool you need to have your dribblers and speed to deal with their gelsepresen. Kroos will be effective coming in during the second half when the intensity of the game has come down a notch or two. Then he is golden right foot can add to proceedings.
It is amazing that once again it comes down to Real Modrić to make the creative difference.
His EPL experience will serve him well.
He knows the intensity that is coming.
Vini may feel a boost of confidence that Mbappe is staying at PSG. He may see it as his moment to become a Galactico in his own right.
Real Madrid play well on the counter and will never need to press Liverpool, which they are not capable of anyway. In many ways Liverpool is good match up for Real.
Ancelotti has to be bold and start his young legs. Then bring on experience in the second half to take it home.
Real Modrić !!
We’ll hold court.
It will be 10