Luka Modric is a renowned Croatian professional footballer who has made a lasting impact on the sport. He is currently playing as a midfielder for the esteemed Spanish club, Real Madrid, and has been the captain of the Croatia national team since 2017.
Born in Zadar, Modric's early life was marked by the Croatian War of Independence, which led to his family being displaced. However, this adversity did not deter him from pursuing his passion for football. At the age of 16, he was signed by Dinamo Zagreb, where he continued to develop his skills and eventually made his debut for the team in 2005.
Modric's impressive performances with Dinamo Zagreb earned him a move to Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur in 2008. During his time at Spurs, he led the team to their first UEFA Champions League appearance in almost 50 years, reaching the quarter-finals of the 2010-11 tournament.
In 2012, Modric joined Real Madrid for a transfer fee of £30 million, where he quickly established himself as a key contributor to the team's success. Under the guidance of Zinedine Zidane, Modric played a crucial role in the team's three consecutive Champions League titles from 2015-16 to 2017-18, and was selected for the squad of the season each time.
Throughout his career, Modric has won numerous accolades, including four UEFA Champions League titles, two La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey, and four FIFA Club World Cup titles. He has also been recognized as the best midfielder in the La Liga and UEFA Champions League on multiple occasions.
Modric has also had a successful international career, making his debut for Croatia in 2006 and scoring his first international goal in a friendly match against Italy. He has since become a key player for the national team, participating in every major tournament Croatia has qualified for, including the UEFA Euro 2008, 2012, and 2016, as well as the 2006, 2014, and 2018 FIFA World Cup.
In 2018, Modric led Croatia to the World Cup Final, where they ultimately finished as runners-up. He received the Golden Ball award for Best Player of the Tournament and was named the Croatian Footballer of the Year a record eight times between 2007-2019.
In recognition of his outstanding achievements, Modric has been awarded the Golden Foot award for career results and personality, and has become the first player other than Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to claim the Ballon d'Or award in over a decade.
