Luka Modrić
Luka Modrić was born on the 9th of September 1985 in Zadar, a city that would soon become a battlefield. His family lived in the hamlet of Modrići on the slopes of Mount Velebit, where he spent his early years tending to goats near a stone house not owned by them. The Croatian War of Independence erupted in 1991, forcing his family to flee their home as Serb rebels executed his grandfather Luka and burned the house to the ground. For seven years, the young boy lived with his parents and siblings inside the Hotel Kolovare, later moving to the Hotel Iž, both located within Zadar itself. While thousands of bombs fell on the city, football became his escape from the surrounding violence. He began playing matches in the parking lot of these hotels, using whatever equipment his father could provide or buy. Tomislav Bašić, who ran the local youth academy, recalled how Modrić's father made wooden shin guards because they had no money for proper gear. Despite being labeled too light and young by scouts, the boy persisted through the chaos of war.
Modrić signed a ten-year contract with Dinamo Zagreb in 2005 after loan spells at Zrinjski Mostar and Inter Zaprešić earned him recognition across the region. His move to Tottenham Hotspur was confirmed on the 26th of April 2008 for a fee of £16.5 million, matching the club record set by Darren Bent. The Premier League media initially dismissed him as lightweight, labeling him unsuitable for English physicality while Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger questioned his durability. A knee injury early in his tenure compounded doubts about his ability to survive the league. Harry Redknapp took over as manager and shifted Modrić back to a central midfield role where he thrived. On the 21st of March 2009, he scored the only goal in a win against Chelsea that proved his value to the squad. He signed a new six-year contract on the 30th of May 2010, stating he wanted to achieve great success at Spurs before any other big clubs could take him away. By the end of the 2010, 11 season, he had recorded an average of 62.5 passes per match with 87.4% accuracy, earning the club Player of the Year award.
Real Madrid paid approximately £30 million to acquire Modrić from Tottenham on the 27th of August 2012, signing a five-year deal immediately. His debut came just two days later when he replaced Mesut Özil in the second leg of the Supercopa de España final against Barcelona. José Mourinho initially kept him out of the starting lineup due to a lack of pre-season training and competition from veteran midfielders Xabi Alonso and Sami Khedira. A turning point arrived on the 5th of March 2013 during a Champions League knockout match against Manchester United where he equalized with a long-range shot after coming off the bench. Carlo Ancelotti became manager in 2013 and paired Modrić with Alonso to create balance between defense and attack. He won his first Champions League title with Real Madrid in 2014, assisting Sergio Ramos for the winning goal in extra time against Atlético Madrid. Under Zinedine Zidane, who took over in January 2016, Modrić helped secure three consecutive titles from 2015, 16 through 2017, 18. By July 2025, he had collected 28 major trophies at the club, including six European Cups and four league titles.
The year 2018 marked a historic shift in football awards when Modrić became the first player outside Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to win the Ballon d'Or since 2007. His campaign began with a Golden Ball award as the best player of the FIFA World Cup held that summer. Croatia reached the final of the tournament but lost 4, 2 to France on the 15th of July. During the competition, Modrić ran more miles than any other player while completing passes in the opponent's half at an elite rate. He scored in group stage matches against Nigeria and Argentina before helping the team advance via penalty shootouts against Denmark and Russia. In December 2018, he added the Ballon d'Or to his collection alongside the UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award and The Best FIFA Men's Player Award. This achievement made him the first Croatian to win these honors and the first player from Eastern Europe to take the trophy after Andriy Shevchenko in 2004. He dedicated the award to players who deserved it but did not receive it over the previous decade.
Modrić made his full international debut for Croatia on the 1st of March 2006 in a friendly match against Argentina in Basel. He became captain following Darijo Srna's retirement and led the national team through multiple major tournaments including every UEFA Euro from 2008 to 2024 and every World Cup from 2006 to 2022. On the 24th of March 2021, he equaled Darijo Srna as the most capped player with 134 appearances before surpassing that record three days later. His leadership guided Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final where they finished second, earning him the tournament's Golden Ball. Four years later at the 2022 World Cup, he captained the side to a third-place finish and won the Bronze Ball as the tournament's third-best player. In June 2023, he became the oldest ever player to appear for Croatia at age 37 years and 259 days during a Nations League match against Wales. By March 2025, he had played in five European Championships, joining an elite group of players who have featured in five such tournaments.
Modrić began his career as an attacking midfielder or trequartista but evolved into a deep-lying playmaker known as a regista under Harry Redknapp. He combines defensive skills of a number six with offensive capabilities of a number ten, creating what Marcelo Bielsa called 'the Modric' position. His passing accuracy reached 90% in La Liga during the 2013, 14 season while completing more passes than any other Real Madrid player in the opposition half. He recorded 62.5 passes per game with 87% accuracy and made the most long balls per match among teammates. The switch to a deeper role reduced his goal output but increased his key passes per game to 2.06 and tackles per game to 1.9. At age 38 years and 234 days, he broke the record for the oldest Real Madrid player to appear in the Champions League on the 30th of April 2024. He became the oldest goalscorer for the club at 39 years and 116 days on the 3rd of January 2025 against Valencia. His versatility allows him to track back to win possession while also driving forward to create chances.
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Common questions
When and where was Luka Modrić born?
Luka Modrić was born on the 9th of September 1985 in Zadar, a city that became a battlefield during his childhood. His family lived in the hamlet of Modrići on the slopes of Mount Velebit before fleeing due to the Croatian War of Independence.
How did the Croatian War of Independence affect Luka Modrić's early life?
The war forced his family to flee their home after Serb rebels executed his grandfather and burned their house to the ground. For seven years he lived inside the Hotel Kolovare and later the Hotel Iž while playing football in hotel parking lots as an escape from violence.
What were the key dates and transfers in Luka Modrić's club career?
Modrić signed with Dinamo Zagreb in 2005 and moved to Tottenham Hotspur for £16.5 million on the 26th of April 2008. He transferred to Real Madrid for approximately £30 million on the 27th of August 2012 and collected 28 major trophies by July 2025 including six European Cups.
Why did Luka Modrić win the Ballon d'Or in 2018?
He became the first player outside Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to win the award since 2007 after leading Croatia to the World Cup final. His campaign included winning the Golden Ball at the tournament where they lost to France on the 15th of July and earning multiple individual honors in December 2018.
How many international caps does Luka Modrić have for Croatia?
Luka Modrić equaled Darijo Srna as the most capped player with 134 appearances on the 24th of March 2021 before surpassing that record three days later. By March 2025 he had played in five European Championships and appeared for Croatia until age 37 years and 259 days during a Nations League match against Wales.