Luka Modric’s illustrious Real Madrid career ended with a painful 4-0 thrashing by Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup semi-finals. But the Croatian maestro’s legacy stretches far beyond a single game, Real Madrid legend and Bayer Leverkusen manager, Xabi Alonso, has said.
Modric, the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner and the Spanish club’s most decorated player, is now set to begin a new chapter with Italian Serie A giants AC Milan. However, tributes have continued to pour in for the midfield genius whose name has become synonymous with an era of dominance at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Speaking to reporters, Alonso hailed Modric as an icon of modern football whose time at Real Madrid was filled with unforgettable moments of brilliance, leadership, and consistency.
“Luka has had an incredible journey at Real Madrid,” Alonso said. “His intelligence, technique and leadership on the field have been vital to the team’s many successes. He will surely be remembered for all the good moments he brought to the club.”
Modric joined Real Madrid in 2012 from Tottenham Hotspur and overcame early criticism to become one of the club’s most influential figures. Over the course of 12 years, he helped the Spanish giants to five UEFA Champions League titles, three La Liga crowns, four FIFA Club World Cups, and numerous other honours, becoming the most decorated player in the club’s storied history.
Alonso, who played alongside Modric before retiring, praised his former teammate’s work ethic, humility, and ability to deliver in the most crucial of moments.
“He represents what it means to be a Real Madrid player – humility, hard work and class,” Alonso noted. “Players like him are rare. What he did over more than a decade speaks volumes of his character and quality.”
Modric’s crowning personal achievement came in 2018 when he was awarded the Ballon d’Or, breaking the decade-long duopoly of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. That same year, he led Croatia to their first-ever FIFA World Cup final, further cementing his status as one of the game’s greatest midfielders.
Even in his later years, Modric continued to impress, adapting his role under different managers and providing experience and stability in the Madrid midfield. Though he featured less frequently in the starting XI in recent seasons, he remained a fan favourite and a trusted figure in key matches.
His departure, confirmed after Madrid’s shock defeat to PSG, marks the end of an era. But for Alonso and countless fans around the world, Modric’s legacy is untouchable.
“Luka didn’t just win trophies — he inspired generations, uplifted the team in tough times and carried himself with dignity and class,” Alonso said. “When people remember this golden era of Madrid, Luka Modric’s name will shine brightly.”
As he prepares to join AC Milan, Modric leaves behind a career at Real Madrid that will be hard to replicate — one defined not just by silverware, but by grace, resilience, and lasting greatness.
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