Real Madrid captain Luka Modric announced on Thursday that he will depart the club following this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup. The Croatian midfielder has made close to 600 appearances since his 2012 move from Tottenham Hotspur.
Luka Modric has officially announced that he will leave Real Madrid following this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup, bringing an end to a legendary chapter in both his and the club’s history. The 39-year-old Croatian midfielder, who joined the Spanish giants from Tottenham Hotspur in 2012, will play his final game at the Santiago Bernabeu this Saturday in Real Madrid’s last La Liga fixture of the season against Real Sociedad.
Widely regarded as one of the finest midfielders of his generation, Modric departs as the most decorated player in Real Madrid’s storied history. Over 13 glittering seasons, he has amassed 28 major trophies, including a record six Champions League titles, four La Liga championships, two Copa del Rey victories, and six FIFA Club World Cups. His remarkable consistency and leadership also saw him captain the team to two trophies in his final season, pushing him past Nacho Fernandez as the club’s most successful player.
Modric’s journey with Madrid didn’t start smoothly, initially facing skepticism after his €35 million transfer, but he soon silenced critics, becoming a crucial part of the club’s modern golden era. In 2018, he won the prestigious Ballon d’Or, breaking the decade-long dominance of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, after leading Real Madrid to Champions League glory and Croatia to the World Cup final in Russia.
Beyond his accolades, Modric made nearly 600 appearances for Los Blancos and became a symbol of class and endurance. He is the oldest player to have represented the club in La Liga, as well as its oldest goalscorer, overtaking Ferenc Puskas by finding the net against Valencia at the age of 39 years and 116 days.
Currently the third longest-serving player in La Liga—behind only Athletic Club’s Oscar de Marcos and Atlético Madrid’s Koke- Modric leaves behind a legacy that will resonate for generations. As he prepares for one final mission in the Club World Cup, the curtain falls on an era defined by elegance, resilience, and unrelenting success.
Modric on Instagram
“The time has come. The moment I never wanted to come, but that’s football, and in life, everything has a beginning and an end… On Saturday I will play my last match at the Santiago Bernabeu,”
“Playing for Real Madrid changed my life as a football player and as a person. I am proud to have been part of one of the most successful eras of the best club in history.
“Although, after the Club World Cup, I will no longer wear this shirt on the pitch, I will always be a Madridista.”
