Luka Modric overcame all odds to make it to the pinnacle of world football, resulting in a Ballon d’Or and six Champions Leagues, and now leaves Real Madrid as their most decorated player ever to join Serie A giants AC Milan.
The 39-year-old featured in an astonishing 63 games for the Spanish giants this year, but sadly played his final match for the club in their humiliating 4-0 defeat to PSG in the Club World Cup semi-final, confirming his move to Italy shortly after.
While he achieved true greatness in the sport, his story to the top is nothing short of inspirational.
Born in Croatia, Modric’s childhood was marred by the devastation of the War of Independence, in which his home country declared their independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
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|Luka Modric confirmed his move to AC Milan on Monday
A young Modric lived and grew up around terrible tragedies of the violence, including his grandfather being brutally murdered by Serbian militia, followed by his family home being burnt to the ground, forcing the family to flee the area.
Despite his grandfather’s death, Modric’s uncle fought the war on the side of the Serbian Army while the Croatian’s family became refugees in a temporary shelter that had been converted into a refugee camp.
The midfielder was largely shielded from the atrocities going on, and a young Modric then began to play football with other refugees and instantly caught the eye.
After playing in local schools, Modric was signed to Dinamo Zagreb’s youth set up, who loaned him to the notoriously physically demanding Bosnia and Herzegovina, with Modric later claiming, “Someone who can play in the Bosnian Premier League can play anywhere.”
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|Luka Modric was played for various clubs at a young age
The youngster would go on to win the league’s Player of the Season at the age of just 18.
Returning to Zagreb, Modric continued to impress, winning Croatia’s Football Hope of the Year award in 2004 before becoming a stalwart in the senior side.
The following year, 19-year-old Modric signed a 10-year deal with Zagreb, where he then became club captain at the age of just 21.
His performances beyond his years in Croatia, leading the club to three consecutive league titles, caught the attention of Daniel Levy at Tottenham Hotspur, who equalled their club-record transfer fee of £16.5million for the Croatian.
After a slow start in north London, including knee injuries and sub-par performances, the appointment of Harry Redknapp played a huge role in Modric’s success at White Hart Lane.
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The 78-year-old veteran manager reverted to playing him in a more familiar central midfielder role, as opposed to on the left wing or in the ‘No10’ position he had been forced into.
Redknapp and Spurs reaped the rewards, as Modric became one of Europe’s most promising midfielders, and Tottenham’s most important player, along with a little-known Gareth Bale.
After four spectacular seasons at White Hart Lane, Modric earned the mega-move to Real Madrid for £30million, but again endured a difficult first campaign.
Incredibly, the Croatian was voted as the worst signing of the La Liga season by Spanish newspaper Marca, but the criticism of Modric’s game would end there.
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|Luka Modric would struggle in his first year at Real Madrid
He would play a starring role as Madrid won four Champions League titles in five years to assert the Spanish giant’s dominance in European football.
The fourth Champions League, won in 2018, marks the most important year and the pinnacle of Modric’s career.
After yet another successful season at club level, Modric led his country to the World Cup final, beating England in the semi-final.
He won the World Cup Player of the Tournament, FIFA Men’s Player of the Year, UEFA Best Player in Europe and the coveted Ballon d’Or. Those trophies were, at the time, exclusively held for Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi.
In fact, Modric ended a decade-long period where the Portuguese or the Argentinian had won the Ballon d'Or, signifying just how impressive the achievement was.
The 39-year-old would go on to win another two Champions Leagues at the Santiago Bernabeu, coupled with five Club World Cups, four league titles and a host of domestic trophies - a remarkable return for a player who joined the club without a trophy outside of Croatia.
Now, Modric leaves the club a true legend, not just of the club or the league, but in global football.
He embarks on a new journey in Milan, despite his upcoming 40th birthday.
The story of Modric is truly remarkable. His continued humility and ability to defy the odds have inspired a generation of players, and his name will be etched in Real Madrid history as the most decorated player at the most decorated club. That will be a hard record to break.