Arsenal
AC Milan have secured their most embellished ever signing in Luka Modric from Actual Madrid, they usually did so with out paying a switch price.
In reality, Modric’s transfer to Milan appeared to get finished in a short time after the preliminary method, and the signing was made official final month. Sporting director Igli Tare is believed to have prompt it, however Massimiliano Allegri was clearly an enormous endorser.
It’s no shock given the standard and expertise the Croatian will convey, even on the age of 39. In reality, lots of Modric’s numbers display that he has maybe by no means been enjoying higher, even when an eye fixed should be saved on his minutes.
As a part of our full scouting report on Modric we additionally took a take a look at among the key bits of information, which we will develop a bit extra upon.
No cupboard large enough
Luka Modric began his profession with Dinamo Zagreb, and it’s most likely not a foul factor to start at a membership the place the stress is excessive to win silverware yearly. It’s one thing he did, lifting sisx titles throughout two years.
Membership
Competitors Titles 12 months Received Dinamo Zagreb First HNL (Croatian League) 3 2006, 2007, 2008 Dinamo Zagreb Croatian Cup 2 2007, 2008 Dinamo Zagreb Croatian Tremendous Cup 1 2006
Modrić was part of top-of-the-line eras in Actual Madrid’s historical past, which isn’t a straightforward factor to do. He gained a complete of 28 main honours with the membership over 13 seasons, at a fee of over two per season subsequently.
Under is a breakdown of what he gained within the Spanish capital:
Trophy
Variety of Titles Years UEFA Champions League 6 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2021–22, 2023–2024 Liga 4 2016–17, 2019–20, 2021–22, 2023–24 Copa del Rey 2 2013–14, 2022–23 Tremendous Cup of Spain 5 2012–13, 2017, 2017–18 2019–20, 2021–22, 2023–24 UEFA SUPER CUP 5 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2022–23, 2024–25 FIFA Membership World Cup 5 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2022–23 Intercontinental FIFA CUP 1 2024–25
The previous Dinamo Zagreb man was a large a part of the three consecutive wins from 2016 to 2018 underneath the then-coach Zinedine Zidane, getting an help within the 2014 Champions League remaining as effectively.
The 2018 Ballon d’Or was maybe the final word particular person accolade, and it got here after Los Blancos acquired the higher of Allegri’s Juventus within the 2017 UCL remaining in Cardiff, one thing he was eager to convey up however will shrink back from doing so straight.
On the prime of his sport
Within the 2024-25 La Liga season, Modrić ranked 4th in correct passes per 90, 1st in correct lengthy balls per 90, 4th in anticipated assists (xA) per 90, and 2nd in possibilities created per 90. Regardless of his age, he stays extremely impactful.
In a match in opposition to Rayo Vallecano earlier this yr (2025), he had a 90% move accuracy (62/69 passes accomplished), 9/10 lengthy balls accomplished, 4 key passes, 9/13 duels gained and 5 recoveries. It’s a stat line that exhibits that he embodies the tag of all-action midfielder.
In comparison with different European midfielders within the ‘prime 5’ leagues, Modric is within the 94th percentile for progressive carries, the 99th for ahead passes, the 98th for ahead move accuracy, the ninetieth for key passes and the 97th for progressive passes.
To place that in perspective, the Zadar-born maestro was the one midfielder in Europe’s ‘prime seven’ Leagues (consists of Belgium and the Netherlands) to rank within the 90+ percentile for progressive carries, key passes, and ahead move accuracy.
The comparability turns into fairly fascinating when pitting Modric in opposition to two artistic forces of their respective groups; one who has simply left the membership and one other who has simply joined the league.
In comparison with an injury-hit Kevin De Bruyne in 2024-25, Modric got here out on prime in duels, defensive actions, progressive carries, ahead passes, ahead move %, and progressive passes, when it comes to the percentile they rank in.
Wanting on the radar/spider internet beneath, Modric additionally beats Tijjani Reijnders in each class, however there may be actually a sure symmetry in regards to the areas that they excel. Might he be the Dutchman’s substitute?
Management in abundance
Being surrounded by Galacticos at Actual is one factor, however the stats for his nation present how he has totally developed right into a management position.
Within the FIFA World Cup his exploits confirmed that he can drag a workforce, as proficient as Croatia had been. They acquired a runner-up end in 2018, the place he obtained the Golden Ball as the very best participant. He additionally captained the workforce to a third-place end in 2022, incomes the Bronze Ball.
They reached the UEFA Nations League remaining in 2022-23 as effectively, ending as runners-up. Modric is an enormous a part of the rationale that Croatia have punched above their weight over the previous decade, given the comparative sources and never having a very aggressive league domestically.
Luka was named within the UEFA Euro 2008 Staff of the Match, turning into Croatia’s most-capped participant in March 2021 and their oldest-ever participant in a UEFA Euro 2024 qualifier. He’s the oldest scorer in Euros historical past, and has been voted Croatian Footballer of the 12 months a file 13 occasions.
Some states from particular person matches present it too: in a sport in opposition to Poland final yr, Modric scored a objective, had 136 touches, 94% move accuracy (99/105 passes), 22 passes into the ultimate third, 5 possibilities created and eight duels gained.
In opposition to Scotland not lengthy previous to that he recorded 11 passes into the ultimate third, 8/9 duels gained, 6/6 correct lengthy balls, 6 interceptions, 4/4 take-ons accomplished and three possibilities created.
Within the 2022 World Cup versus the event’s shock workforce Morocco, Modric had 100% lengthy ball accuracy, 100% take-on success, 93% move accuracy, 83 touches and 6 possessions gained.
