Real Madrid Legend Luca Modric’s 13-Year Long Association Comes to an End
One of the most celebrated footballers of the iconic club, Real Madrid, Luca Modric in his 13 seasons made 590 match appearances and helped the club win record-breaking 28 trophies, including six Champions League titles.
Real Madrid and midfielder Luka Modric — the most decorated player in the club’s history — have agreed to amicably part ways after the Club World Cup set to commence mid-June onwards. The 39-year-old Modric will leave after an unforgettable tenure and being an ambassador of true sportsmanship for his club of 13 years.
Luca can well be accounted as a synonym for being a modern-day legend both of Real Madrid and world football. He joined in 2012 and since then became a key player during one of the most successful periods in the club’s history.
In 13 seasons, Modric helped the club win 28 titles: Six European Cups, six Club World Cups, five European Super Cups, four Spanish leagues, two Copas del Rey and five Spanish Super Cups. Although, he had been playing relatively fewer minutes in recent seasons under coach Carlo Ancelotti.
The Club World Cup is slated to take place in the United States, and Madrid will pay tribute to Modric in its last match of the season on Saturday (May 24) against a contemporary Real Sociedad in La Liga at Madrid’s home ground, Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Hall of Fame
Luca Modric has a list of notable achievements to his credit. With a career spanning over a decade with one of the most renowned and followed footballs clubs, his illustrious career boasts of accolades and appreciation that people only dream to accomplish.
As a midfielder, Luca’s name is included in the list of greatest midfielders of all time and his immense contribution on the field with massive experience over the years has catapulted Real Madrid’s following even further. Out of the myriad list of recognitions, the ones that have made him a veteran for the Los Blancos include,
- Modric making a whopping 590 appearances for Madrid — eighth on the club’s all-time list — and scored 43 goals as a central mid-fielder.
- He is one of the only five players to have won six European Cups.
- In 2018, Modric won the prestigious Ballon d’Or award, named FIFA’s best men’s player and UEFA’s men’s player of the year.
- Luca has been named the best midfielder in the Champions League twice.
- Modric’s 186 matches for Croatia make him the nation’s record-holder for international appearances.
- He won the Golden Ball at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where Croatia lost the final to France and the Bronze Ball at the 2022 World Cup held in Qatar.
Modric will depart from the Santiago Bernabeu stadium as the most decorated player in the history of the club with 28 trophies. The Croatia international is nearing 40 but as per the country’s national team’s coaching staff member, Nikola Jerkan, the midfielder wanted the journey to continue for a while. Modric had his contract extended for a year last summer. This summer, there were expectations at Madrid that they would further extend it again, but things didn’t go as planned. According to Jerkan, sentiments at Madrid shifted, and talks of contract extension suddenly collapsed with no clear justification for this move.
In an interview with Marca, Nikola Jerkan said: “I didn’t expect it, Luka had the fuel to continue for another year and retire at Real Madrid. He wanted to stay; he had even spoken with Xabi Alonso about continuing. But something changed with the club leaders in the last few days. Real Madrid was his everything, but his football career isn’t over yet.”
Road Ahead for Luca Modric
Luka Modric’s contract expires on June 30, 2025. While the player is still coming to terms with the end of his Madrid career, Los Blancos have already scouted his replacement. As per multiple reports, Madrid can look to offer Rodrygo plus cash deal for Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez. Real Madrid folks conclude their season on 24 May 2025, as they take on rivals Real Sociedad – Modric’s last home game for Los Blancos.
Modric has built a name that only countable athletes can achieve in international football, and with an indelible mark on the club’s history, its going to be a tough spot for his shoes to be filled. His departure leaves a significant void, and Real Madrid coaches now work on finding his ideal replacement.
Xabi Alonso, Madrid’s future coach and manager meanwhile has proposed three probable options as his preferred contenders – Florian Wirtz, Tijjani Reijnders and Angelo Stiller. Who out of the three formidable midfielders gets picked is yet to be seen – but the work behind the scenes has begun long back. The operation new pick instead of Modric already has replacements on the radar, with a generational change loading soon.
FAQs on Luca Modric
1) Which club did Luca Modric play for?
Luca Modric has been associated with Real Madrid for 13 years and is set to depart soon.
2) Luca Modric belongs to which country?
Luca Modric is a Croatian footballer, hailing from Croatia.
3) How many goals has Luca Modric scored for Real Madrid?
In the 13 years while playing for Real Madrid, Luca Modric has scored 43 goals and made 95 assists from 590 appearances.
