After a decade filled with unforgettable memories, individual awards, championships, impressive goals, and more, the veteran Croatian national team captain and undisputed midfield starter for Real Madrid continues to garner accolades to this day. Yesterday, France Football magazine published a list of candidates for the prestigious Ballon d’Or for the 2021 season, and the Croatian legend again appears along with 29 other elite footballers, as Luka Modrić receives nomination after winning it in 2018.
In the 2020-21 season, the second affected by the pandemic, Luka Modrić reached second place in La Liga with Real Madrid and the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League, where they lost to Chelsea. Despite the result, Modrić was included in the ideal eleven of the top European club tournament. With his club, Luka had 48 appearances and 6 goals that season. With the Croatian national team, Luka Modrić captained the team again at EURO 2020, where he scored a magnificent goal in Croatia’s last group stage match against Scotland. Unfortunately, the team only made it to the round of 16, where they lost 3-5 against Spain after extra time, in a frenzied match that they heroically tied in the last stages.
France Football announced yesterday the 30 candidates for the Ballon d’Or, and Luka Modric appears again among them. (France Football/Twitter)
But Luka’s level goes beyond the numbers and the results. Despite the fact that in recent years many players of the age of the Croatian footballer have retired from football or left Europe to play in less competitive leagues, Modrić continues to be a fundamental piece in the schemes of both Zlatko Dalić in the national team, as well as for Carlo Ancelotti in Real Madrid, a club of which Luka has been a part since 2012. At Real Madrid, for example, several younger players have tried to take over from the Croatian midfielder in recent years. However, players like Dani Ceballos, Marcos Llorente, Federico Valverde, Isco, or Eduardo Camavinga, have been unable to start before the Croatian, and have had to choose to be substituted or be transferred to other clubs.
Luka Modrić receives nomination and is once again a candidate for the Ballon d’Or, which was awarded to him with a wide advantage in 2018 after his spectacular season with Real Madrid, winning the Champions League for the fourth time, and after a historic feat at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where he led the Croatian national team to the final. This year, Luka justifies his nomination due to his consistent performance and enormous mental, physical, and football abilities at 36, extending a fruitful and remarkable career far beyond.
Today, Luka is defending first place in La Liga and second in his group in the Champions League. While with the Croatian national team, the captain is currently playing the qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup, where he was part of the team that beat Cyprus 3-0 yesterday in Larnaca.
To follow the latest sports news in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.
To learn more about sport in Croatia, CLICK HERE.
