Just a year ago, in the summer of 2018, the world was at Luka Modrić’s feet. The veteran midfielder once again had the chance of leading his country at a World Cup, this time captaining them to Russia where, just as everyone else in the tournament, they had hopes and dreams to chase.
But despite almost everyone in the footballing world having a similar ultimate goal in their mind, only the chosen few get to live it. Modrić was certainly one of those chosen few. He may not have won the World Cup but he got the next best thing.
Just like Lionel Messi four years before him, the little magician got a silver medal around his neck and a World Cup Golden Ball in his hands. Not long after that, the award tally grew once again as the midfielder was the first human to break the duopoly of two aliens in the Ballon d’Or race.
By all accounts, the now 33-year-old Croatian had reached the absolute peak of his career. Some of his fellow national team compatriots felt the same for their own careers so they decided to call it a day. Reaching the final of the World Cup in Russia was the greatest achievement in Croatia’s history, beating the bronze from 1998 in France.
But it’s not just the national team that brought success to Modrić. Three consecutive Champions League crowns and four overall with Real Madrid speak for themselves. He’s seen it all and more importantly, he’s (almost) won it all.
And despite all of that, there still comes a moment when your time in the sun has to end, and looking at the current situation both at the club and national team level, that time for Modrić just might be right now.
That statement might seem like an obvious course of action given that he is 33 years old, after all. Even if he was in absolute peak condition, going on for much longer on the highest of levels would certainly be a stretch. But his last outing with Real Madrid, although ending in an eventual victory for Los Blancos, was very much symbolic in representing the Croatian’s current status.
Modrić struggled to catch up with the 25-year-old ex-Barcelona player Denis Suarez and was really late with his tackle to snatch the ball away from his rival. Instead, he caught his leg with a nasty stamp.
After an initial check with VAR, the referee went straight for his back pocket, pulled out the card and Modrić saw red for the first time in his La Liga career with Real Madrid. And just like Suarez burst past him in a couple of steps on the touchline, it very much looked like time itself had gone by the Croatian as well.
He went straight for the locker room, confused and clearly not happy with the decision. But as brilliant and as important Modrić was for Real Madrid through all those years, as his countless silverware and achievements can attest, maybe it really is the right moment to step aside and give way to the younger generations.
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The Croatian was never really a great goalscorer or the one to pile up the assists. In his 304 games, he scored 17 goals and assisted 47. Decent numbers but he’s clearly not the one to put the finishing touches on a brilliant action. No, he’s the one to pull the strings, set it all up and make it possible.
He’s very much that figure behind the scenes, the engine that tirelessly works in order for the machine that is Real Madrid to grind everything down as well as it usually does.
But despite their opening day success against a tough opponent on a relatively tough ground in Vigo, the Whites very much look like they’re in a need of a revamp. The pre-season and basically the entirety of last season showed as much.
They haven’t won anything of significance in 2018/19 and were embarrassed and beaten in all three major competitions they took part in. They finished third in La Liga, they were beaten by Ajax in the Champions League and by Barcelona in Copa del Rey.
Going full circle with their managers and instilling Zinedine Zidane back at the helm is also something that kind off screamed desperation; a last gasp of returning to the glory days that he made possible. And maybe that’s the biggest proof that Modrić is not who he used to be.
Granted, putting the failure of the whole team on the shoulders of one man, however good he might be, is not really the way to go but Modrić really was the heart of that team in their glory years of European domination.
Sure, Cristiano Ronaldo and even Gareth Bale banged in the goals but Modrić made them tick and that’s something the stats will always have a difficulty portraying correctly. Maybe his passing accuracy was good or he sent an impressive amount of key balls but that’s still not who he is.
He is a silent worker and one whose contribution can often slip under the radar if you don’t watch him play closely. And with his form dipping, his influence veining and his twilight years of football rapidly approaching, maybe it is time to freshen things up.
This is true for the whole core of Real Madrid but Modrić was the engine and if the engine is not working properly anymore, problems are bound to happen sooner rather than later.
Maybe binning him immediately is a harsh option but letting him take a backseat for once and leaving him to influence the changing of the guard from the background is not.
There comes a time when every footballer has to face this same decision. For Modrić, the good old saying “quit while you’re ahead” might be the best piece advice he’s going to get.
Becuase at the end of the day, you either “die” a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain. Iker Casillas, anyone?
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