It’s no secret the Luka Modrić’s 12-year run at Real Madrid may be over in three months…and maybe his footballing career once Euro 2024 concludes. (It’s my opinion that Luka’s last professional match will be played in the red and white checkers of a Croatian jersey)
He may have to play second fiddle off the bench for Real Madrid the rest of the way, but at the end of the day, Modrić has become god-like at the Bernabeu in his relative old age over the past half decade. The man is 38 1/2 years old, knows that the end is near, and is still giving us moments that simply can’t be explained. Most football players past the age of 34 are retiring, going into coaching, or taking the money in the Saudi league. Not our Luka Modrić. This man has stayed humble and has accepted a lesser role off the Real Madrid bench. And what is he doing at the ripe old age of 38 1/2? Kissing shots off the post from outside the box for game winners.
It’s simply unheard of and we are lucky to be able to witness it. Seriously. ManagingMadrid wrote a short and easy read on Modrić last week (well before the Sevilla goal) calling him “immortal.” “If Cristiano Ronaldo and Alfredo di Stefano are at their own table in the annals of Real Madrid history, Modrić is comfortably at the next table beside them.” We (as Croatians) know how great Modrić is and the importance of what he has done for Croatia on the global scale. But to hear Real Madrid websites basically putting him on the Real Madrid “Mount Rushmore” alongside Ronaldo and di Stefano. That’s pretty cool. Modrić will go down as one of — if not the best — midfielders to ever dawn the white shirt of Real Madrid — the most decorated club in world football. All of that from being called “the biggest La Liga bust” in his first season in Spain.
However, outside of football and all his accolades, there’s a coolness and calmness to Modrić. I think it’s what makes him so likable. I think it’s what makes his teammates fight for him. When I chatted with him at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles this past summer, I got the feeling that Modrić was at peace entering his final season with Real Madrid. I got the feeling he was okay riding off into the sunset. I got the feeling he was going to squeeze every damn drop of juice from this season that he possibly can. When not one Real Madrid player approached the members of the media, Modrić stood out and B-lined it over to CroatianSports to say hello. There will be other players down the line who will ‘shoulder drop’ and ‘trivela’ as Modrić does when he finally hangs up the boots. Those things you can teach and learn. But the man has a respect and grace (off and on the field) that will never be duplicated. He’s never bigger than anyone around him and he’s never bigger than the moment. And that’s what will make him immortal for Real Madrid. And for Croatia.
**We can talk Modrić goals and awards all day long. But this assist to Rodrygo in Champions League lives rent-free in my head. I have never seen a better pass for an assist in such a high pressure situation than what Modrić does here. If you can find a better assist in the history of football, by all means.
Pogba 4-year doping ban
Will FIFA look retroactively at 2018 finals
And if they can “prove” Pogba was doping (I doubt he started y’day)
Can they disqualify France and award Croatia as winner / gold medal (similar to what they do at Olympics)
Thoughts ???
https://youtu.be/jX1C1i0BEpA?si=E1OSqHEj9oRetrR2
Real Madrid
Man city
Out the box bangers ..
Where is Živa when you need him?
I pray Kovačić can take his game to the next level this Euro.
Ziva is crying in his beer over another one of his failed business ventures in Croatia. That guy was an idiot but at the same token I felt sorry for him.
Word on the street is his tata gifted him an import/export business based in Zadar. Due to him being a degenerate Dalmo gambler, he blew all his money, zena left him and had to claim bankruptcy and last word is he is back in the fortified basement in the US where mama brings him down dinner every night.
Sounds like trump
Kovacic with a banger today
Nice, He is turning on the famous Croatian after 30 Vatri burners , we will hope, moving forward.
Modrić is the reason we exist as a people.
Why for millennia we survived attacks from all sides of ljepa naša.
He competes with his heart for the Soul of the people.
This is our super power.
This is what can never be duplicated.
Can you imagine him and his fresh 38+ legs leading us in front of German stadiums packed with Hrvati this summer.
I love his role for Madrid this Spring.
Real Modrić was retired years ago.
Let Luka enjoy the big moments and save his extra gear for Croatia.
Leading a third and fourth generation of nogometaši to the promise land!!
Wasn’t there a guy on this board who said that Madrid’s signing of Luka was bust? Geez what an idiot.
You nailed it. Especially as it relates to that assist. It was the most incredible pass I’ve ever seen. I think about it whenever his name enters my thoughts.
The outside foot shots/passes are amazing especially this one. He had another outside foot cross that he set up with Rakitic from the other side, in an international competition, but was headed straight to the goalie. Still was beautiful as well, even though Rakitic did not score. It was either italy or Spain .
The match that made Real Madrid buy Luká Modric
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIrlE-5Dsqw
Video intro says 2008 but it was 2012.
The 3-2 Wembley Nov 2007 qualifier vs. England (when we knocked out England from qualifying from Euro 2008 – after beating them 2-0 Maksimir in 2006) got him the transfer to Spurs in April 2008 after Man City and Newcastle were interested
If Croatia and England weren’t in the same group those qualifiers – who knows if he would have ended up in England then (as opposed to another top league)
Fate
It was against Spain, Euro Cup in Poland. I was lucky enough to be there. It was dazzling (we were in the Croatian section so behind the far net for that … unfortunately, but still).
Great! Unfortunately, I probably I watched the game @ Alpine Village, Torrance, CA, when that existed.
Rakitic deliberately didn’t score.
Wide open net, and he headed it right to Casillas.
It seems as though, he did a “Kramaric” on that one unfortunately.
That was a plate with garnish as well.
Glad that the other Luka Sucic is okay, and Modric continues to be beyond impactful, even with limited minutes as a replacement.
Good news.
I would rather he just take the season off, rather than try and get him back in April (when the season will be pretty much done).
He’s more of a long term investment for us, as we probably won’t be playing him much at Euro2024 anyway.
But I think RB Salzburg want to cash in on him this summer, so they will try to get him back.
Hopefully, Andrej is okay as well. He’s been pretty reliable when it comes to avoiding injuries.
“He’s never bigger than anyone around him and he’s never bigger than the moment.”
Hey Ante – shout out for this line. You’re getting pretty good at this stuff!
It sums up what we all know and understand about the living legend of Modric: there will never be another like him.
Soo many unbelievable moments no doubt. The most entertaining player to watch, Croatian or not.
That picture says it all. What a legend.
Modric is going to ride off to one of those teams that offers stupid money to oldies. Why not cash in while you can?
If he was going to do this, then he probably would have already.
He’s turning 39 this year and could have “cashed out” any time over the past 5-6 years (like Iniesta, Ramos, Busquets, etc).
It would have been cool to go back to Dinamo (if Dinamo wasn’t in a decline period right now).
Also, shout out to Sevilla for drawing a similar appearance to our legendary 2018 Russia kits
I saw a pic of luka celebrating and it looked like a lovren in dark in the background
I had to do a double take
Tho, my gf tells me i need glasses, so there is that;)