Real Madrid: Ranking the 10 best goals of the 2020/21 season

3- Modric scored an injury-time winner against Villarreal, but he couldn’t celebrate much

It was the final game of the season, and Real Madrid was losing 1-0 to Villarreal at home, with a win needed to stay alive in LaLiga, with runaway champions Atletico’s match simultaneously going on. Atletico was winning anyway and Real’s result couldn’t have done anything. But the players didn’t know that and they kept fighting on the pitch.

Benzema equalized in the 89th minute with a beautiful finish, but a draw was never going to be in enough. The players kept fighting, and in the 92nd minute, following a quick counter lead by Mariano, Benzema received from the Dominican-Spanish player. Benzema gathered it and crossed it towards the box with Luka Modric arriving.

The Croatian couldn’t have headed from the penalty box, and he had to take it down. But he wasn’t an ordinary player then, he was a determined man. And as we know, difficult times often bring the best in people. The same happened with Modric, as he took it down with his chest, and shot a powerful volley with his weaker left foot on the turn, which flew past Geronimo Rulli.

The ball did take a deflection on its way, but Luka Modric deserves every bit of appreciation for this goal. To produce a moment of magic in the dying seconds of the game and at a time when the season is on the line is simply tremendous. Modric couldn’t celebrate much and he wouldn’t be too fond of that goal because it couldn’t help his team win the title. But he shouldn’t forget that the fans will always remember this effort from Luka.