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May 22, 2025
Luka Modric Retirement: Luka Modric has officially declared he is leaving Real Madrid. The legendary midfielder will depart when his contract ends after this season.
Modric announced it through an emotional Instagram post. Modric, now 39, called time on his long-lasting and successful time at the club, announcing that this Saturday at the Bernabeu will be his last.
Real Madrid are going to play Real Sociedad in their last La Liga game in 2024-25.
It will be an emotional goodbye as Modric prepares to depart from the fans and stadium that he has called home.
Luka Modric has almost confirmed he will feature in the Club World Cup squad. The tournament will take place in the U.S. from June 14 to July 13.
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He alluded to this in his farewell message to the fans. Modric, who has achieved 186 caps for Croatia, always expected to remain at Real Madrid.
That was his first priority. But with open conversations with the club this week it was decided.
He is leaving at the end of the season. This is the end of an era—a period full of enjoyment, loyalty, and incredible memories.
“I am walking away with my heart totally full,” Modric said while emotionally bidding farewell.
He reflected on pride, deep gratitude, and memories that will be with him forever.
Modric also made it known—after the Club World Cup, he may not wear the shirt again, but his heart will always beat for Real Madrid.
“I will be a Madridista in the end,” he claimed lovingly.
His journey began in 2012, when he arrived from Tottenham Hotspur. He has played a whopping 590 matches for the Spanish giants.
He scored 43 goals and provided enough magic moments. In all his years playing at the Bernabeu he collected 26 trophies.
Among those are four La Liga titles and the outstanding six Champions League titles.
A true legend, as he departs he leaves a golden chapter in the future of Real Madrid.
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After a season that saw Modric help Real Madrid lift the Champions League trophy in 2017-18, and lead Croatia to the World Cup final in Russia, Modric took the Ballon d'Or.
For the first time since Kaka in 2007, Modric broke the long standing Messi-Ronaldo dominance for the first player that was not Messi or Ronaldo.
In June 2024, he reportedly accepted a reduction in salary to sign a one-year extension.
The nature of his role also changed, with most of his appearances being from off the bench.
Still, his presence and leadership will always be valued, even if he plays fewer and fewer minutes.
With 26 trophies, Modric is level with Nacho Fernandez for the most trophies won by a Real Madrid player.
Nacho left the club to sign with Saudi Arabia's Al Qadsiah last summer.
Modric also made history when he became Real Madrid's oldest player in La Liga.
This season, he eclipsed the record set by the legendary Ferenc Puskas. In January, he became the oldest goalscorer for Madrid as well.
At 39 years and 116 days, he scored the equalizer in a 2-1 win over Valencia. These records are a testament to how exceptional his career has been.
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Currently Modric is the third longest serving player in La Liga - behind only Oscar de Marcos of Athletic Club and Koke of Atletico Madrid.
This season Modric has played 23 games as a starter, and has appeared off the bench 25 times between La Liga and the Champions League.
It was the first season Real Madrid had ended without winning a major trophy since the 2020-21 season.
It comes just after head coach Carlo Ancelotti's departure. Ancelotti was named manager of Brazil just last week.
Modric has been at the center of Real Madrid's midfield since the days of Mourinho and the start of Ancelotti.
New managers came and went, but Modric's role never lost its importance.
His departure concludes a legendary chapter.
Modric is not only a great player, he was part of a historic/semi-legendary trio.
Modric, Toni Kroos, and Casemiro are regarded as one of the best midfield's in Madrid's history.
Collectively, that trio has contributed four Champions League titles to the club. Madrid will never forget the era powered by him, Kroos and Casemiro.
The competitive spirit of Modric has never disappeared in all his years in the game. Even at the highest level.
In his final days in a Madrid shirt, he still had that competitive fire burning within him.
In the locker room, he led without raising his voice. He was the definition of a quiet leader, because everyone respected him.
Regardless of the situation, he always put the team first. He changed his game, accepted new roles, and he kept running.
But above all else, people will remember his footballing magic. His first touch, his vision, his class, unlike anyone before or after him.
That brilliance was that he won the Ballon d'Or in 2018. That moment simply confirmed what everyone in the world already knew about Modric—he was special.
The Ballon d’Or was a proud moment for Modric in his career but his actual success is far greater than that trophy.
What stands out most, was how subjectively important he remained during every iteration of Real Madrid, from Mourinho to Ancelotti, Modric was always trusted regardless of coach.
He was not just a player - they built the game around him, and year-after-year he backed it up. That quiet yet impactful fact was what defined his greatness.
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