In a nightmarish evening for Real Madrid, the team suffered a heavy 0-4 defeat at the Bernabéu in the Clasico against FC Barcelona. Yet, amidst this turmoil, Luka Modric etched his name into the annals of football history once again. At 39 years and 47 days old, the captain of the Madrid side made a remarkable mark.
Barcelona effortlessly humiliated Real Madrid in the first Clasico of the season. Substituted in at the 63rd minute, Modric, the captain of the Casa Blanca, could do little to change the tide. Despite his wealth of experience and keen vision, the Croatian, hungry for victory, found himself powerless against the youthful vigor of the Blaugrana.
However, Luka Modric can take solace in one significant piece of news: at 39 years and 47 days, he became the oldest player to take the pitch in a Clasico between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. Modric surpassed the legendary Madridista Paco Buyo, who played his last Clasico at 38 years and 312 days. Buyo, who guarded the Madrid goal from 1986 to 1997, is regarded as one of the club’s most respected goalkeepers. But now, Modric has cemented his legacy with this new mark of longevity.
On the Barcelona side, the oldest player to have played in a Clasico remains Dani Alves. The former Brazilian international was 38 years and 318 days old when he faced Real Madrid for the final time under Xavi Hernandez.
Modric, the ultimate football legend
Having played for Tottenham, among other clubs, Luka Modric faced criticism in Spain for his relatively timid start at Real Madrid. However, José Mourinho, who brought him to the club, believed in his potential and knew it would only be a matter of time before he flourished. Indeed, that time proved fruitful for the Special One, as Modric silenced all his critics.
Having won everything with Real Madrid, Modric achieved the unexpected in 2018 when he led Croatia to the World Cup final. Following a memorable season where he helped secure the Champions League for Madrid as one of the key contributors, Modric was named the tournament’s best player at the Russian World Cup. This accolade, in turn, earned him the Ballon d’Or that year, making him the first player to break the stranglehold of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi on the prestigious award.
Now, at 39, Modric continues to shine at the highest level with Real Madrid, shattering longevity records. As Arsène Wenger remarked the day before the Clasico, all football lovers must respect Luka Modric’s illustrious career, as he is, in every sense, already a legend of the sport.
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