Real Madrid defeated Celta Vigo 4-1 over the weekend, with numerous players shining brightly on the occasion, particularly youngsters like Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde, and Aurelien Tchouameni, who delivered one of his greatest individual performances.
Among the youthful midfield, there was one guy who is absolutely on the opposite end of his career but remains one of the finest midfielders in the world. It is none other than the magical Luka Modric.
Real Madrid legend, one-time Ballon d’Or holder, and five-time Champions League winner, Luka Modric, has set himself a goal that would be unrealistic for some, but very possible for him.
The Croatian views himself as someone capable of playing football till the age of 40. He feels great both physically and mentally and would like to stay at this level for as many years as possible. As reported by AS, Modric said:
"“I see myself capable of playing until I’m 40 years old or so. I am very well physically and mentally. I have to go little by little and enjoy what I am doing. I am in a very big club, the best in the world without a doubt, and I am working to maintain this level for as many years as possible.”"
Everyone at Real Madrid has the greatest respect for the Croatian maestro
Not only do the fans love Modric, but so do the players. Recently, Los Blancos head coach Carlo Ancelotti praised the Croatian and termed him “immortal”.
Not only that, but in the match against Celta Vigo, when he scored a spectacular goal and provided a cheeky assist to Vinicius Jr, he earned a standing ovation from the away supporters for the great performance he delivered on that day, which has become usual for him.
Since joining Real Madrid a decade ago, the Croatian maestro has been an indispensable member of the squad, winning every club level title in the royal white. With each passing game, he proves that age is only a number. On September 9th, Modric will turn 37, yet he shows no signs of slowing down.
Recently, the midfielder beat Cristiano Ronaldo’s record for the most Real Madrid appearances by a non-Spanish player. Not only that, but Modric is expected to captain Croatia in the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar after leading his country to the competition’s final in 2018.
Modric recently got a one-year contract extension with Real Madrid and is expected to be looking for more in the future. The performances he continues to deliver despite his age is admirable, to say the least, and the leadership qualities he offers to youngsters like Valverde and Rodrygo is just another advantage of having the veteran continue playing in white for many more years.
Modric is undeniably one of the best players in Real Madrid history, and replacing him would be a monumental undertaking. Anyway, for the time being, he is giving the club more time to find a successor, as he continues to perform at the highest level. As long as he is around, treasure the magic because we might never see another quite like him.