Luka Modrić
Luka Modrić (Croatian pronunciation: [lûːka mǒːdritɕ];[4][5] born 9 September 1985) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Serie A club AC Milan and captains the Croatia national team. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all time,[6] and as the greatest Croatian player ever.[7] Modrić began his professional career with Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb in 2003 before he went on loan spells to Bosnian-Herzegovian side Zrinjski Mostar and Croatian side Inter Zaprešić. He made his debut for Dinamo in 2005 and his great performances earned him a move to Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur in 2008. He led Spurs to UEFA Champions League qualification in 2010, the club’s first qualification in almost 50 years. In the summer of 2012, Modrić joined Real Madrid for a £30 million transfer fee. In his second season, he won the 2013–14 Champions League title and was named in the squad of the season. After Zinedine Zidane took over Madrid in 2016, Modrić was a key member of Madrid’s three consecutive Champions League titles from 2015–16 to 2017–18, and was named into the squad of the season each time. In total, he won 28 major trophies at Madrid, including six UEFA Champions League titles, four La Liga titles, and two Copa del Rey titles, making him the most decorated footballer in the club's history.[8] He left Real Madrid in July 2025, joining Serie A club AC Milan on a free transfer. Modrić has won numerous individual awards, including the Ballon d'Or in 2018, making him the first player other than Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to win the award since 2007, the Best FIFA Men's Player, and the UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award, and the IFFHS World's Best Playmaker award in 2018. He has also been named in the FIFPRO World 11 six times and in the UEFA Team of the Year three times. In 2019, he was awarded the Golden Foot award for career results and personality. Modrić made his international debut for Croatia against Argentina in March 2006, and scored his first international goal in a friendly match against Italy. Modrić has anchored Croatia's "second Golden Generation", participating in every major tournament Croatia has qualified for, including every UEFA Euro from 2008 to 2024 as well as every FIFA World Cup from 2006 to 2022. At Euro 2008, he was named in the Team of the Tournament. Modrić led Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final, winning the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player. In March 2021, he became the country's most capped player. At the 2022 World Cup, he led the team to a third-place finish, winning the Bronze Ball as the tournament’s third best player. He has also been named Croatian Footballer of the Year a record thirteen times between 2007 and 2024. In addition to that, he was named the BTA Best Balkan Athlete of the Year for 2018.[9] Early life.jpg) Luka Modrić was born on 9 September 1985 in Zadar and was raised in the hamlet of Modrići, which is a part of Zaton Obrovački,[10][11] a village situated on the southern slopes of the mountain Velebit, north of the city of Zadar in SR Croatia, then a republic within SFR Yugoslavia.[12][13][14] He is the oldest child of Stipe Modrić from Modrići and Radojka Dopuđ from Kruševo near Obrovac, both of whom initially worked in a knitwear factory.[15][16][17][18] Modrić mostly spent his early years in the stone house where his paternal grandfather usually lived after whom he was named,[10][19] located on the road above the hamlet of Modrići (this "upper house" was not owned by the family),[20][21][22] and was shepherding goats as a five-year-old.[23][24][25] However, his childhood coincided with the Croatian War of Independence—in 1991, when the war escalated, his family were forced to flee the area.[12] Modrić's grandfather Luka was executed by Serb rebels who were part of the police of SAO Krajina in December 1991 near his house in Modrići,[12][14][26][27] and after the family fled, the house was burned to the ground.[28][29] Modrić's uncle, on the other hand, fought on the side of the Serbian Army of Krajina.[30] Modrić became a refugee and lived with his family in the Hotel Kolovare for seven years; he later moved to the Hotel Iž, both in Zadar.[12][31][32] His father joined the Croatian Army as an aeromechanic.[12][33] In those years, thousands of bombs fell on the city and football was a way to escape the reality of war.[14] He recalls it as a tough time for his family and something which shaped him as a person.[34][35][36] He also said he was mostly unaware of the war because he befriended many other children and their parents did not let it affect their childhood.[17] In these difficult circumstances, Modrić began playing football, mostly at the hotel parking lot.[14] In 1992, he simultaneously entered the primary school and a sporting academy, the latter paid for with the little money the family had, sometimes helped by Modrić's uncle.[12][31][17] As a boy he was inspired to play football by Zvonimir Boban and Francesco Totti.[37] Club careerEarly years.jpg) Supported by his family, Modrić participated in representative camps and trained in NK Zadar.[12][17] He was under the tutelage of coach Domagoj Bašić and the head of the youth academy, Tomislav Bašić.[12] Tomislav Bašić, considered by Modrić as his "sporting father",[27][32] said Modrić's father made him wooden shin guards because they had little money.[12][34][36] However, Modrić later denied the story.[14] Due to being considered too young and light, he was not signed by Croatian powerhouse Hajduk Split, the most representative football club in the region of Dalmatia.[12][17][38] After displaying some talent, including at a youth tournament in Italy,[27] Tomislav Bašić arranged Modrić's move to Dinamo Zagreb when Modrić was a 16-year-old in late 2001.[12][14][39] After a season with Dinamo Zagreb's youth side, Modrić was loaned in 2003 to Zrinjski Mostar in the Bosnian Premier League.[12][27] During this period, he established his versatile style of play and became the Bosnian Premier League Player of the Year at only the age of 18.[40] Modrić later said, "Someone who can play in the Bosnian Premier League can play anywhere," referring to its physical nature.[40] The following year, he was loaned to Croatian side Inter Zaprešić. He spent one season there, helping the team to achieve second position in the Prva HNL[27][41] and a place in the preliminary round of the UEFA Cup. He also won the Croatian Football Hope of the Year award in 2004.[40] He returned to Dinamo Zagreb in 2005.[40] Dinamo ZagrebIn the 2005–06 season, Modrić signed a ten-year contract (his first long-term contract) with Dinamo Zagreb.[40] With the contract's earnings, he bought a flat in Zadar for his family.[14][27] He secured a place in Dinamo's first team, contributing 7 goals in 31 matches to help win the league.[42] In the 2006–07 season, Dinamo again won the league, with Modrić making a similar contribution.[42] He was the main provider for striker Eduardo,[40] which helped Modrić win the Prva HNL Player of the Year award.[3] The following season, Modrić as a team captain,[43] led Dinamo's attempt to qualify for the 2007–08 UEFA Cup. In the final play-off stage, Modrić converted a penalty in the second and away fixture against Ajax; the match finished 1–1 after regular time. Dinamo won the match and play-off with a score of 3–2 after extra time with two goals from teammate Mario Mandžukić.[44] However, Dinamo Zagreb failed to advance beyond the group stage. In his last home match with the club at Maksimir Stadium, Modrić was given a standing ovation and fans held up supportive banners.[45][46] He finished his four-year tenure at Dinamo with a tally of over 31 goals and 29 assists in four league seasons,[27][47] contributing most notably in the 2007–08 season when Dinamo won the second Croatian Cup and became champions by a 28-point margin.[48] Modrić was courted by Barcelona, Arsenal and Chelsea, but opted to wait leaving the club.[27][49][50] Tottenham Hotspur2008–2010: Struggle and success in England Modrić agreed to transfer terms with Tottenham Hotspur on 26 April 2008. He was the first of many summer signings for manager Juande Ramos, and was also the Premier League's first summer transfer.[51] Club chairman Daniel Levy promptly flew to Zagreb when Manchester City and Newcastle United became interested,[52][53] and after signing a six-year contract, Tottenham confirmed the transfer fee paid was £16.5 million, equalling the club's record fee set by Darren Bent's move in 2007.[54] He got the number 14 jersey, later recalling that he wore it in honour of Johan Cruyff.[55] Modrić made his competitive Premier League debut on 16 August in a 2–1 defeat to Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium in Spurs' first match of the 2008–09 season.[56] Modrić had a slow start at Tottenham. He suffered from a knee injury early in his tenure and was labelled as a light-weight for the Premier League by sections of the media,[39][35] as well as Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger.[57] Reflecting on that, Modrić said that such "critics push you forward to show people they are wrong. Maybe I look lightweight but I am a really strong person mentally and physically, and I never had any problems with my size".[39] This coincided with his poor form, leading to concerns both for himself and Croatia national team head coach Slaven Bilić.[57] Modrić spent his early days at the number 10 position, before being shifted to the left wing to play alongside Wilson Palacios.[57] Spurs teammate Tom Huddlestone later said, "[H]is versatility was probably a blessing and a curse, he was that good that he had to play out of position for a bit."[57] After the appointment of manager Harry Redknapp, Modrić was given a more familiar role as a central or left-sided midfielder, allowing him to have more influence on the team and use his footballing talent more productively, for example in a 4–4 draw with arch-rivals Arsenal on 29 October.[58] Redknapp recognised Modrić's value to his side and planned to shape his new team around the Croatian playmaker. He scored his first competitive goal at Tottenham in a 2–2 draw against Spartak Moscow during the UEFA Cup group stages on 18 December 2008.[59] He scored his first Premier League goals against Newcastle United in an away defeat on 21 December, a home win in the third round of the FA Cup against Wigan Athletic on 2 January 2009, and in an away defeat against Manchester United on 25 April 2009.[60] Using Modrić in his former position from his Dinamo days made him more effective with performances against Stoke City,[61] Hull City,[62] and most notably on 21 March when he scored the only goal in a win against Chelsea.[63] Before the 2009–10 season, Redknapp said of Modrić, "[He's] a hell of a player and a manager's dream, so I am told. He trains like a demon and never complains, will work with and without the ball on the field and can beat a defender with a trick or with a pass. He could get into any team in the top four".[64] On 29 August 2009, during Tottenham's 2–1 win over Birmingham City, Modrić was taken off injured with a suspected calf injury.[65] The following day, it was confirmed Modrić had sustained a fracture to his right fibula and was expected to be out for six weeks.[66] He returned on 28 December in the London derby against West Ham United, which Spurs won 2–0 with an 11th-minute goal scored by Modrić using the leg he had broken.[67] He again scored in a home win against Everton on 28 February 2010,[68] and in an away defeat against Burnley on 9 May.[69] On 30 May 2010, Modrić signed a new six-year contract that ran until 2016. Upon signing, he said, "Tottenham Hotspur gave me my chance in the Premier League and I want to go on to achieve great success here with them. Yes, there have been enquiries from other big clubs, but I have no interest in going anywhere. Last season's top-four finish was an indication of where we are as a club and I feel I can continue to improve and go on to achieve everything I want to at Spurs."[70] 2010–2012: Final seasons in England On 11 September 2010, Modrić scored his first goal of the 2010–11 season in a 1–1 away draw at West Bromwich Albion.[71] On 28 November, in a home match against Liverpool, Modrić scored a goal that was later credited as an own goal by Martin Škrtel. After a draw against Manchester United at White Hart Lane in January 2011, Redknapp praised Modrić, saying, "He was unbelievable. Magnificent. He's an amazing footballer, the little man takes the ball in the tightest areas with people around him, wriggling out of situations. He could play in any team in the world."[72] Modrić also scored in Tottenham's 3–2 victory over Stoke City on 9 April,[73] and converted a penalty at Anfield on 15 May in a 2–0 victory over Liverpool.[74] Modrić helped Tottenham reach their first involvement in the UEFA Champions League. In the first match, against Inter Milan at the San Siro on 20 October, he exited the match early due to injury; Spurs lost 4–3, despite the tremendous efforts of Gareth Bale.[75] On the return match at home, on 2 November, Modrić was given too much space to move and dictate the tempo of the match. He created and assisted for the first goal by Rafael van der Vaart in a 3–1 victory.[76][77] In the next match, against Werder Bremen, Modrić scored the second goal.[78] After a scoreless draw against Milan,[79] Spurs were eliminated from the competition in the quarter-finals by Real Madrid.[80] Modrić played 32 Premier League matches in the 2010–11 season, scoring three goals, recording two assists and making the highest average number of passes per match for Spurs with 62.5 and an accuracy rate of 87.4%.[81] At the end of the season, Modrić was voted the Tottenham Hotspur Player of the Year. Then-Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said he would have chosen Modrić as his Player of the Year for that season.[82]
—Luka Modrić reflecting on the negotiations with Chelsea and the move to Real Madrid in February 2014.[39]
In mid-2011, Modrić was heavily pursued by Tottenham's London rivals Chelsea, who made a first bid of £22 million, which they increased to £27 million, both of which were rejected by Spurs chairman Daniel Levy.[83][84] After the failed bids, Modrić announced he would welcome a move across London and that he had a "gentleman's agreement" with Levy the club would entertain offers from a "big club".[85] Speculation continued throughout the summer transfer window, culminating in Modrić refusing to play in Tottenham's opening match of the 2011–12 season against Manchester United, which ended in a 3–0 loss.[86] Modrić said his "head was not in the right place" as he continued to force a move to Chelsea.[87] On the final day of the transfer window, Chelsea made an offer of £40 million that was again rejected.[88] After failing to secure a transfer, Spurs manager Harry Redknapp told Modrić to focus on his playing and named him as a starter.[89] On 18 September, he scored his first goal of the season for Tottenham with a shot from 25 yd (23 m) in a 4–0 home win against Liverpool.[90] On 14 January 2012, Modrić scored the only goal in a home draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers.[91] On 31 January in a 3–1 win against Wigan Athletic, he assisted for the first goal with a crossfield pass and scored the second from 20 yd (18 m).[92] For the third time that season, he was included in "Team of the Week".[93] Modrić scored his last goal for Tottenham on 2 May in a 1–4 away win against Bolton Wanderers with a powerful volley from 25 yd (23 m).[94] Real Madrid2012–13: Becoming a starting eleven player in Real Madrid On 27 August 2012, Real Madrid announced they had agreed on a deal with Tottenham for an approximate £30 million transfer fee.[95] Modrić signed a five-year contract with the Spanish club.[95][96] Two days later, he made his Real Madrid debut against Barcelona in the second leg final of the 2012 Supercopa de España at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, replacing Mesut Özil in the 83rd minute. Madrid won the match, giving Modrić his first trophy with the club 36 hours after his signing was announced.[97] Despite his positive debut, Modrić at first struggled to settle into the team under manager José Mourinho because of his lack of pre-season training, which he missed as a result of his ongoing transfer negotiations.[39] The presence of veteran midfielders Xabi Alonso and Sami Khedira in defensive midfield, and Özil in offensive midfield, usually kept Modrić out of the starting line-up, limiting him to substitute appearances. He mostly played out-of-position for his first few months at the club. He played his first UEFA Champions League match for Real Madrid in the group stage against Manchester City on 18 September, which Madrid won 3–2. On 3 November, Modrić scored his first goal for Real Madrid in the last minute of their 4–0 victory over Real Zaragoza in La Liga.[98] His most notable match that year was on 4 December, when he assisted for the first two goals of Cristiano Ronaldo and José Callejón with cross-field passes in a 4–1 victory over Ajax in the group stage of the Champions League.[99][100][101] At the end of the year he was voted as the worst signing of the season by Spanish newspaper Marca.[102] Modrić started in Real Madrid's home match against rivals Barcelona on 2 March 2013. From a corner kick, he assisted Sergio Ramos to score the winning goal in the 82nd minute, giving Real a victory in El Clásico. On 5 March, Modrić came on as a second-half substitute during the decisive Champions League knockout leg against ten-man Manchester United at Old Trafford. With Madrid behind by a goal, Modrić equalised with a long-range shot from 25 yd (23 m) out and played a key role in the rest of the match, which Real Madrid won 2–1, advancing them to the quarter-finals 3–2 on aggregate.[103][104][105] This match is often seen as the turning point in Modrić's career in Real Madrid.[39] On 16 March, he replicated this performance against Mallorca, giving Real Madrid the lead with a long-range volley from 30 yd (27 m); Real Madrid won the match 5–2.[106] Modrić played as a starter in both Champions League semi-final matches against Borussia Dortmund. In the first leg on 24 April, he played in the attacking midfield position where he did not influence the match and the team lost 4–1. On 30 April, in the second leg 2–0 victory, Modrić played as the deep-lying playmaker, making passes to the attackers and creating several chances; he was among the best-rated players that night.[107][108][109] From March 2013, Modrić's form and influence in the midfield continued to improve, distinguishing himself as a player with most passes completed in his team. On 8 May, he assisted from the corner for the first goal and scored the fourth goal in a 6–2 victory over Málaga.[110] 2013–2015: Best midfielder in Spain and La Décima
—Predrag Mijatović praises Modrić's rising performance and significance for the team in January 2014.[111]
With the arrival of new manager Carlo Ancelotti, Modrić became one of the most frequent starters in the team, being partnered in midfield with Xabi Alonso to provide a balance of defence and attack.[112][113] He was consistently the team's most efficient passer, averaging 90% accuracy in La Liga, and also having the most ball recoveries among the squad.[39][57][112] He scored his first goal of the 2013–14 season in the last Champions League group match against Copenhagen, making it his fifth goal for the club, all five of which were scored from the outside the penalty area.[114] Modrić scored his first goal of the Liga season in a 3–0 away win against Getafe, his sixth goal outside the penalty area.[115] Modrić was on the pitch when Real Madrid won the 2013–14 Copa del Rey after defeating Barcelona 2–1 in the final.[116] In the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, Modrić intercepted the ball and assisted Cristiano Ronaldo for the third goal in Real Madrid's 3–0 home victory against Borussia Dortmund. The goal was ultimately decisive because Real went on to lose 2–0 in the second leg, but progressed with a marginal aggregate score of 3–2. In his 100th appearance for the club,[117] Modrić assisted for the first goal in the second leg 4–0 victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final, helping Real Madrid reach the final for the first time in 12 years.[118] He was included in UEFA's Team of the Week for both legs of the semi-final.[119][120] On 24 May in the final, Modrić again assisted from a corner for teammate Sergio Ramos, who scored a 93rd-minute equaliser against local rivals Atlético Madrid. Real won 4–1 in extra time, marking the club's tenth Champions League title, locally known as La Décima (lit. 'the Tenth').[121] He was included in the UEFA Champions League Team of the Season[122] and received the LFP award for the "Best Midfielder" of the Spanish first division for that season.[123] In August 2014, Modrić signed a new contract to stay at Real Madrid until 2018.[124] With the departure of Alonso he was partnered with newly arrived Toni Kroos.[125] Real Madrid began the 2014–15 season by winning the UEFA Super Cup over Sevilla[126] Modrić assisted twice for Bale, first against Real Sociedad in La Liga,[127] and second against Basel in the Champions League.[128][129] In the 2–0 away win against Villarreal, Modrić scored his seventh goal from outside of the box.[130] In late November, Modrić sustained a thigh injury during an international match against Italy, because of which he did not play for three months.[131] He returned in early March 2015, starting in seven matches and proving his form.[132] On 21 April, in the 3–1 home win against Málaga, he strained ligaments in his right knee, because of which he did not play until May.[133][134][135] With his injury, Real Madrid's 22-match winning run in the season came to an end. His absence and the lack of a quality substitute were seen as the main cause of Real Madrid's failure to win matches in La Liga and the Champions League.[136] Ancelotti said, "Modrić has missed most of the year and this has hurt us."[137] Modrić's influence was recognised and he was selected by professional players in the FIFA FIFPro World XI.[138] 2015–2017: Among the world's best players and La Undécima and Duodécima.jpg) For the 2015–16 season, Carlo Ancelotti was replaced by Rafael Benítez under whom Modrić continued to be a key midfield player.[139][140] He sustained a muscular groin injury during an international match against Bulgaria in October, initially suggesting an absence of two-to-three weeks.[141] However, by 20 October, he had recovered in time for the match against Paris Saint-Germain.[142] With the arrival of new manager Zinedine Zidane in January 2016,[143] the relationship between them was noted in the media, with Modrić described as "master of the game",[139][144] and the crucial "connector" of the defence and attack.[14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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