Modric breaks all the molds

In a context where European football is increasingly eroded by a dense match schedule, Luka Modric once again becomes living proof of the concept of "extraordinary".

Modric showed incredible stamina.

At 39, and having turned 40 just a few weeks ago, the Croatian midfielder still played 76 games last season: 64 for Real Madrid and 12 for his country.

More surprisingly, the 2024/25 season also marks the first time since 2018/19 that Modric has not missed a game due to injury. He only missed three La Liga games, while he played the rest of the Champions League and the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Despite losing his starting place in Carlo Ancelotti’s final season, Modric has maintained a clear influence, both professionally and mentally, in the dressing room.

Along with the Croatian legend, Real Madrid also has another “machine”: Federico Valverde. The Uruguayan midfielder has not played as many matches as Modric (72 matches), but leads Europe in terms of minutes played with 6,676 minutes, 200 minutes more than Achraf Hakimi – the player ranked second. This number shows that Valverde is becoming an irreplaceable pillar of Real in all arenas.

Last season’s endurance picture also saw the impressive return of Pedri. After years of struggling with injuries, the Barcelona midfielder played 69 games – the second highest of his career, after his first season with the “Blaugrana” (73 games, including EURO and Olympics). Pedri’s ability to maintain a consistent playing pace is a positive sign for both Barca and the Spanish national team.

In a context where players are increasingly critical of the harsh schedule, Modric’s ability to maintain his fitness and competitive spirit at the age of 40 is “a paradigm-breaker”. His presence not only reminds that football is still a game of will and intelligence, but also affirms that enduring, steadfast values ​​can still go hand in hand with the frenetic pace of modern football.

Source: https://znews.vn/modric-pha-vo-moi-khuon-mau-post1590147.html