Croatia star Luka Modric is likely on the tail end of his career for both his club Real Madrid and country Croatia, but that doesn’t mean his performance levels have dropped.
Modric is still playing at an extremely high level, carrying his country to the knockout stage of the World Cup for the second time. He’s also a star for Los Blancos in midfield, the Spanish club still unable to find anyone to match him, despite his advanced age.
A playmaker of exceptional talent, Modric’s vision and passing range makes him one of the most prolific and valuable midfielders around the globe. What’s more, he’s maintained his standards at the top level for an extremely long period of time.
With Croatia taking on Morocco in the 2022 World Cup third-place playoff, here’s more on their superstar midfielder who has carried the national team to new heights throughout his illustrious career.
How old is Luka Modric?
Born in September of 1985, Luka Modric is 37 years old as of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Modric began his career at Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb, which is known for its prolific youth academy. He moved to Tottenham Hotspur as a 22-year-old in 2008, and played there for four years, becoming a well-known Premier League player.
At 27, Modric made the switch to Real Madrid in Spain, and has been there since. The 2022/23 season is his 11th campaign at the La Liga club.
Luka Modric World Cup career, stats with Croatia
Modric has often saved his best for the biggest stage, starring for Croatia at the World Cup and carrying the team to new heights.
In 15 career World Cup matches so far, Modric has scored two goals and assisted one, all coming in his famed 2018 World Cup run. Four years ago, Modric led Croatia to its first World Cup final in history, defeated 4-2 by France to fall just short of the trophy.
Modric won the Golden Ball that year as the best player in the entire tournament.
The 2022 World Cup is the fourth FIFA tournament of Modric’s career, having also competed in 2018, 2014, and 2006.
Croatia advanced through the group stage in 2014 and this year in 2022, failing to reach the knockout round in the other two tournaments.
Overall, in his Croatian national team career, Modric has made 158 appearances, scoring 23 goals to date.
| Year | Games | Mins | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 2 | 28 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | 3 | 270 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | 7 | 694 | 2 | 1 |
| 2022 | 6 | 566 | 0 | 0 |
Luka Modric trophies won with Croatia, Real Madrid
Luka Modric has been a serial winner wherever he’s gone. From his early days at Dinamo Zagreb to Real Madrid and the Croatian national team, Modric has won nearly everywhere he’s been.
The only club he didn’t win any silverware at was Tottenham, and even there, he reached the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League in 2010/11, where they fell to his future club Real Madrid.
It was the furthest the London club had ever reached in the Champions League to that point.
Dinamo Zagreb trophies won
- Prva HNL league title (3): 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08
- Croatian League Cup (2): 2006/07, 2007/008
- Croatian Super Cup (1): 2006
Real Madrid trophies won
- La Liga title (3): 2016/17, 2019/20, 2021/22
- Copa del Rey (1): 2013/14
- Supercopa de Espana (4): 2012, 2017, 2019/20, 2021/22
- UEFA Champions League (5): 2013/14, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2021/22
- UEFA Super Cup (4): 2014, 2016, 2017, 2022
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018
Croatia
- FIFA World Cup (runners-up): 2018
Individual
- Ballon d’Or: 2018
- FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 2018
- La Liga Team of the Season: 2015/16, 2021/22
- UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: 2021/22
- UEFA Men’s Player of the Year: 2017/18
- Tottenham Player of the Year: 2010/11
- Croatian Footballer of the Year: 2007, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
- Best Croatian U-21 Player: 2004