On his 38th birthday, Luka Modric is chasing this record at Real Madrid

Luka Modric arrived at Real Madrid in 2012, after shining for 4 seasons at Tottenham Hotspur. Since then he has been a key player for Los Merengues, with a total of 492 appearances, 37 goals and 79 assists. In his 11 years at Real Madrid he has won 23 titles, including 3 Spanish league titles and 5 Champions League titles.

However, his contribution to the team cannot be measured with statistics: every time he is on the field he uses his intelligence, positioning and leadership skills to organize the team, in addition to his talent to pass the ball and always find the best option.

Now, at the age of 38, his role at Real Madrid has changed. Coach Carlo Ancelotti knows that he no longer has the vigor of previous seasons, but he trusts in his talent, experience and wisdom. That is why he has given him opportunities to enter the team in some games, and in others he has had to wait for his moment on the bench.

Modric is now close to breaking a record at Real Madrid: only 3 players before him had played at the club at the age of 38. Goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek played his last game there at 38 years and 59 days in 2011. Buyo, also a goalkeeper, played until he was 38 years and 63 days in 1996. And the first in the ranking is Ferenc Puskas, who played his last game in 1965 at the age of 38 years and 234 days. To surpass all of them and become the oldest player in Real Madrid's history, Luka needs to play one of the last games of La Liga 2023/24.

Confidence in himself

Modric recently gave an interview in which he spoke about his age and his desire to continue at Real Madrid: "I've always said it: it doesn't matter how old you are, but what you show on the pitch. And I feel very good playing. I'm calm, aware that there is a lot of competition, that our young players are of the highest level! But I'm firmly convinced that I can still play at the level Real Madrid demands”.