'Monster' Luka Modric

At the age of 40, when most players have retired from top-level football, Luka Modric remains central to AC Milan's style of play and continues to write another remarkable chapter in his extraordinary career.

Modric still shows his class at the age of 40.

Top-level football rarely makes room for players over 40. Declining speed, declining fitness, and a demanding schedule often force big stars to retire early. But Luka Modric has always been a rare exception to that rule.

When time seemed to have no effect on Modric

In the 2025/26 season, the Croatian midfielder is continuing his remarkable journey in the AC Milan shirt. Less than a year after leaving Real Madrid, Modric has not only not slowed down but has also become one of the most important players for the Rossoneri.

When Milan signed Modric, there were many skeptical opinions. A 40-year-old player, despite being a former Ballon d'Or winner and an icon of Real Madrid, was still questioned about his ability to adapt to the intensity of Serie A.

Many believe it was merely a symbolic signing. A name powerful enough to generate media buzz and evoke nostalgia for a legend, but unlikely to have a lasting impact on the pitch.

What's happening this season is proving otherwise.

Modric is one of Milan's most frequently used players. The Croatian midfielder started 26 out of 27 Serie A matches. He only missed the Coppa Italy and the Italian Super Cup, but those absences were very brief.

To date, Modric has played 2,477 minutes for Milan, equivalent to approximately 90% of the team's total playing time this season.

That number becomes even more impressive considering Milan are not participating in European competitions this season. Modric's total playing time therefore nearly matches the amount he played last season at Real Madrid. It might even surpass his playing time in the 2023/24 season.

Modric shone in the Milan derby.

From another perspective, 26 starts this season is just one less than the total number of starts Modric made in his final season at Real Madrid.

Those statistics show that the Croatian midfielder's self-confidence was entirely justified. When he left the Bernabeu, Modric believed he was still capable of playing at the highest level for at least another year.

The situation in Italy is proving that point.

Modric's resilience is even more remarkable when compared to players of the same age. With 2,477 minutes of playing time, the Croatian midfielder far surpasses other "veterans" in Europe.

James Milner, a Premier League icon currently playing for Brighton, has only played 718 minutes this season. Santi Cazorla is close behind with 693 minutes.

That gap speaks volumes. Modric is more than just playing football. He's still performing at an intensity that most 40-year-old players can't reach.

Milan's brains in the San Siro derby.

Statistics only tell part of the story. Modric's true value lies in how he controls the game. The Milan derby against Inter in Serie A Round 28 on the morning of March 9th was clear evidence of this.

Derby is always a tough stage. It's where great players are celebrated, but it's also where those lacking the mental fortitude are easily overwhelmed by the pressure. In Milan's victory, Modric once again showed why he remains central to the team's system.

In Milan's victory, Modric once again demonstrated why he remains central to the team's system.

After the match, the Croatian midfielder mentioned an emotional detail. He said it was great to see Sergio Ramos in the stands at San Siro. For Modric, it wasn't just a special guest, but also a memory of his glorious years at Real Madrid.

But if Ramos had watched the match that day, he would probably have been the most impressed by his former teammate's performance.

La Gazzetta dello Sport gave Modric a 7.5 rating and used a single word to describe his performance: "Monster." It's not because Modric plays with brute strength. What sets him apart is his intelligence on the game.

In a tense derby match, where the pace is always very high, Luka Modric still maintained a rare composure.

Right at the start of the match, the Croatian midfielder quickly recognized a mistake by goalkeeper Yann Sommer. That situation inadvertently created an opportunity for Christian Pulisic, and Modric was the one who controlled the ball before unleashing a shot. It was just a small detail, but enough to show the sharpness of a midfielder who has been competing at the highest level for over a decade.

The decisive goal of the match came from Pervis Estupiñán in the 35th minute. However, Milan's victory didn't just come from that moment. It stemmed from how the entire team functioned, from reading situations faster than their opponents and maintaining a reasonable tempo throughout the game. In that system, Modric was the one who set the tempo.

What's special about the Croatian midfielder is that he always seems to be one step ahead of the game. Modric is often in exactly the right place. He arrives a step earlier than his opponents, touches the ball cleanly, and opens up new attacking avenues for his teammates. Such small details are rarely mentioned in the statistics, but they determine how the game unfolds.

At Milan right now, Modric is no longer the explosive player he was during his peak at Real Madrid. His role is more focused on organizing and controlling the game. It is precisely this calmness that has become a crucial asset for the Rossoneri.

Modern football changes very quickly. New generations of players emerge constantly with superior speed and strength. But Luka Modric remains a paradox of time.

At 40, the former Real Madrid star is more than just playing. He remains one of the focal points of the game. And every derby like the one at San Siro reminds people that true legends are rarely defeated by time.

Source: https://znews.vn/quai-vat-luka-modric-post1633497.html