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MODRIĆ

Luka Modrić
CROATIA · CRO · MIDFIELDER · #10
9 SEP 1985 · Dinamo Zagreb · Tottenham Hotspur · Real Madrid · Milan
The Croatian CruyffLuka
CROATIA · #10

🌎 WORLD CUP RECORD

0
TITLES
19
MATCHES
2
GOALS
YEARHOSTAPPSGOALSRESULT
2006Germany20 GROUP STAGE
2014Brazil30 GROUP STAGE
2018Russia72 RUNNER-UP
2022Qatar70 3RD PLACE
█ ATTRIBUTES
PACE 68
SHOOTING 74
PASSING 86
DRIBBLING 86
DEFENDING 70
PHYSICAL 62

⚡ DEFINING MOMENTS

▲ 2018 · The summer Croatia would not lie down
Modrić scored from the spot against Nigeria and lashed in a long-range strike against Argentina, then dragged his side through three consecutive knockout marathons — two of them settled on penalties, both of his own conversions buried. Croatia reached their first final; he collected the Golden Ball as the tournament's finest player. France won the match 4-2, and the medal he took home was silver.
▲ 2022 · One more long walk in Qatar
At 37 he was still the metronome, knocking out Brazil on penalties in the quarter-final before the order of things reasserted itself against Argentina in the last four. Croatia beat Morocco for third place, and Modrić left the field to an ovation — a fourth World Cup closed without the trophy, but with little left unproven.
▲ 2006 · A first glimpse in Germany
A 20-year-old Modrić appeared twice off the bench as Croatia went out at the group stage — the quiet opening to a finals career that would span sixteen years and four tournaments.

📜 CAREER TIMELINE

2003
Turns professional with Dinamo Zagreb; loans to Zrinjski Mostar and Inter Zaprešić toughen him up.
2008
Joins Tottenham Hotspur and steers them into the Champions League for the first time in nearly half a century.
2012
Signs for Real Madrid, where he becomes the most decorated player in the club's history.
2018
Captains Croatia to the World Cup final and wins the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player.
2018
Named the world's best player, ending a decade of dominance by two forwards.
2025
Leaves Madrid after thirteen years and joins Milan on a free transfer, still playing into his fortieth year.
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█ THE ALMANAC SPEAKS
PROF. INKSWORTH:

Four World Cups, nineteen matches, and the longest reach of any midfield of his generation — yet the trophy stayed just out of it, a final lost and a semi-final lost a tournament apart. He is the rare man whose finest World Cup ended in defeat and still earned its highest individual honour. History will note the silver medal of 2018; it will note the Golden Ball beside it.

  • Both his World Cup goals came in the same fortnight of 2018 — a penalty against Nigeria and a long-range strike against Argentina.
  • He converted his spot-kick in two separate 2018 shootouts, helping Croatia survive Denmark and Russia on the way to the final.
  • His four World Cups span sixteen years; Croatia missed the 2010 edition entirely, so he never had to sit one out once selected.
Ready.
Zone: Historical