Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric stood glumly on the stage where France was to receive the FIFA World Cup trophy and posed for pictures after winning the Golden Ball, awarded to the best overall player in the tournament. Even in defeat, Luka and Croatia should hold their heads high for what they were able to do in Russia.
At 32-years-old, Luka Modric is not only the engine that drives Real Madrid to titles but his country as well. With a population of just four million, the second smallest to make a World Cup Final ever, Luka proved this summer that he is by far one of the best midfielders to ever play the beautiful game.
His hard work for the full 90 minutes (and then some in three matches during this tournament), his tenacious tackles, and ability to control and direct the team were unmatched through the month of play in Russia and has been at the club level for several years now.
Starting all seven of Croatia’s matches, Luka helped his country to their best finish ever and a second place finish that probably no one thought possible in this tournament with the amount of talent on seemingly every team.
But, two goals, an assist, and some clutch penalty kicks at the end of extra time from the maestro, Modric, made everyone watching the biggest tournament in the world take notice of his nasty skill.
If you aren’t a fan of Real Madrid and don’t watch each match week in and week out, the consistent skill and passion that this 5’8″ exudes might go unnoticed. He doesn’t have the goals and assists to have him in the Ballon d’Or race, but it is his behind the scenes contributions which make Real the best team in the club football world that makes him one of the best.
When he arrived from Tottenham Hotspur in 2012, many Madridistas were upset by the transfer and wanted Luka gone. But, through his continued growth as a leader of this team and as a person, he has become a fan favorite in the Santiago Bernabéu.
And rightfully so. What makes Luka Modric even more special is where he has come from. He and his family were forced to flee their hometown during the civil war that split Yugoslavia back in the early 1990’s.
Now, his name is known by every football fan in the world and he is being hailed as the hero that helped the best Croatia team to a runner-up finish despite being one of the smallest countries in the tournament.
Seeing the agony on his face as he stood with the Golden Ball trophy and hugging Croatian president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović on the stage after receiving the silver medal broke my heart. No one worked harder or deserved to win the World Cup than Luka.
Even in defeat, we Real Madrid fans and millions across the world will honor what this man did and how hard he worked to get his national team to this point. It may go down as one of the best individual efforts we have seen from a midfielder in the World Cup.
Next: Real Madrid: It’s time for Gareth Bale to be the star player
This play from the midfielder just makes me even more excited to see what he and Toni Kroos can do under a new manager. This Real Madrid team this season could easily have the best midfield in the world under a new manager.
Keep your head up Luka! You are a legend in my eyes!