Who Is Luka Modrić

Luka Modrić (born in Zadar on 9 September 1985) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for the Italian club AC Milan and wears the captain’s armband for the Croatia national team. He is regarded as one of the best midfielders of all time and the greatest Croatian footballer in history.

He began his career in Zagreb with Dinamo, and later played for Tottenham and Real Madrid. In Madrid he spent thirteen seasons and won 28 trophies, including six Champions League titles. In 2018 he led Croatia to the World Cup final in Russia, and the same year he won the Ballon d’Or, ending the long-standing dominance of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

This article follows the life of Luka Modrić, from a childhood marked by war and displacement to his status as a living legend of European football.

Early Life and Childhood

Luka Modrić was born on 9 September 1985 in Zadar and grew up in the hamlet of Modrići, part of the village of Zaton Obrovački, on the southern slopes of the Velebit mountain. At the time it was SR Croatia, a republic within SFR Yugoslavia. He is the eldest child of Stipe Modrić and Radojka (née Dopuđ) from Kruševo near Obrovac. Both parents initially worked in a knitwear factory.

He spent his first years mostly in the stone house of his grandfather, after whom he was named. At the age of five he tended goats on the slopes of Velebit.

His childhood coincided with the war in Croatia. When the conflict escalated in 1991, the family had to leave their home. According to available sources, his grandfather Luka was killed in December 1991 near his house in Modrići by members of the police of the rebel SAO Krajina. After the family fled, the house was burned down.

Modrić became a refugee. With his family he lived for seven years in the Hotel Kolovare in Zadar, and later in the Hotel Iž. His father joined the Croatian Army as an aircraft mechanic during the war. The young boy began playing football in the hotel car park, and he later said the game helped him cope with those difficult years.

In 1992 he started primary school and football school at the same time. The family paid for the football school out of modest earnings, sometimes with help from an uncle. As a boy he looked up to Zvonimir Boban and Francesco Totti.

He continued training at NK Zadar, where he was coached by Domagoj Bašić and the head of the youth academy, Tomislav Bašić. Modrić still regards him as his “sporting father”. According to several sources, Hajduk Split did not sign him because he was too young and slightly built.

Education

Details of Luka Modrić’s formal education are not publicly known. What is known is that in 1992, while living as a refugee in Zadar, he started primary school and attended a football school at the same time.

His real education took place on the pitch. First came the youth academy of NK Zadar, and from the end of 2001 the youth system of Dinamo Zagreb, where he kept developing as a sixteen-year-old.

Early Career

Youth Years at Zadar and Dinamo

He spent his youth years at the Zadar club, and showed his talent at a tournament in Italy as well. At the end of 2001, Tomislav Bašić arranged his move to Dinamo Zagreb, when Modrić was sixteen years old.

Loans in Mostar and Zaprešić

After a season in Dinamo’s youth team, Modrić was sent on loan in 2003 to Zrinjski from Mostar, who played in the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He made his debut on 3 August 2003 in a 1–0 win over Borac from Banja Luka. At just eighteen he was named Player of the Year in the Bosnian Premier League. He later said that anyone who can play in that league can play anywhere, referring to its physical nature.

The following year he was loaned to Inter Zaprešić. In one season he helped the club finish second in the Prva HNL and earn a place in the UEFA Cup qualifying round. For that performance he received the Croatian Football Hope of the Year award in 2004.

Return to Dinamo Zagreb

Modrić returned to Dinamo in 2005 and in the 2005–06 season signed his first long-term contract, for ten years. With the money from the contract he bought a flat for his family in Zadar. He immediately secured a place in the first team and, with seven goals in 31 matches, helped the club win the league.

In the following seasons Dinamo were champions again, and Modrić was the main provider for striker Eduardo da Silva, which earned him the Prva HNL Player of the Year award. He also became team captain. In the 2007–08 season Dinamo won the Cup and the league title by a 28-point margin. By the time he left he had won six domestic trophies with Dinamo. In his last home match at Maksimir stadium, fans sent him off with ovations and banners of support.

Rise to Fame: Tottenham Hotspur

On 26 April 2008, Modrić agreed to join the English club Tottenham Hotspur. He was manager Juande Ramos’s first summer signing and the Premier League’s first summer transfer that year. The club paid £16.5 million for him, equalling the record set a year earlier by Darren Bent. He wore the number 14 shirt, which he later explained he chose in honour of Johan Cruyff.

The start in London was not easy. Modrić suffered an early knee injury, and some in the media considered him too light for English football. He scored his first goal on 18 December 2008 against Spartak Moscow in the UEFA Cup, and his first Premier League goal against Newcastle. After the arrival of manager Harry Redknapp he was given a more familiar role in midfield. Redknapp began to build the team around him, and on 21 March 2009 Modrić scored the only goal against Chelsea.

In August 2009 he broke his right fibula and was out until the end of December. He returned on 28 December against West Ham and scored in the eleventh minute with the very leg he had broken. In May 2010 he signed a new contract until 2016.

In 2010–11 Tottenham played in the Champions League for the first time, and Modrić, together with Gareth Bale and Rafael van der Vaart, was one of the key players of a team that reached the quarter-finals. Real Madrid eliminated them there. At the end of the season he was voted Tottenham’s Player of the Year. In the summer of 2011 Chelsea bid up to £40 million for him, but club chairman Daniel Levy rejected every offer. Modrić stayed, and scored his last goal for Tottenham on 2 May 2012 against Bolton.

Real Madrid: Thirteen Seasons of Success

Settling In at Madrid

On 27 August 2012, Real Madrid announced it had agreed a deal with Tottenham for Luka Modrić for around £30 million. He signed a five-year contract. Two days later, on 29 August, he made his debut in the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup against Barcelona, coming on for Mesut Özil in the 83rd minute. Real won, and Modrić collected his first trophy just 36 hours after his transfer was announced.

In his first months under manager José Mourinho, Modrić struggled to establish himself, as he had missed pre-season because of the transfer negotiations, and Xabi Alonso and Sami Khedira played in midfield. At the end of 2012 the Spanish newspaper Marca named him the worst signing of the season. The turnaround came on 5 March 2013, when he came on as a substitute at Old Trafford, scored from long range against Manchester United and helped Real reach the Champions League quarter-finals.

The Ancelotti and Zidane Era

With the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti in 2013, Modrić became one of the most frequent starters. In 2013–14 he won the Copa del Rey, beating Barcelona 2–1 in the final, and on 24 May 2014 he helped Real win “La Décima”, the club’s tenth European Cup. In the final against Atlético Madrid, Sergio Ramos scored an equalising goal in the 93rd minute from Modrić’s corner, and Real won 4–1 after extra time. For that season he was also named the best midfielder in the Spanish league.

When Zinedine Zidane arrived in January 2016, Modrić became the “master of the game” and the link between defence and attack. With Real he won three consecutive Champions League titles (2016, 2017, 2018) and was included in the team of the season each time. In the 2017 final against Juventus he assisted Cristiano Ronaldo’s second goal, and he became the first Croatian to win the trophy three times. He took the number 10 shirt in 2017–18, after James Rodríguez left. At the 2017 Club World Cup he was named the best player of the tournament.

The Ballon d’Or and the Years After

After the 2017–18 season and the World Cup in Russia, in 2018 he won the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year award and The Best FIFA Men’s Player award, and in December the Ballon d’Or. He thus became the first player other than Messi or Ronaldo to win the award since 2007, and the first Croatian to receive it. He dedicated the award to all the players who, as he put it, deserved it but never received it.

He remained an important part of the team in his later years. In January 2020 he scored his 100th career goal against Valencia in the semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup, and in April 2022 his long-range assist for Rodrygo in the second leg of the quarter-final against Chelsea produced one of the most memorable moments of that Champions League season. Real then beat Manchester City and won the fifth Champions League of Modrić’s career. He won his sixth in 2024, in the final against Borussia Dortmund (2–0), becoming one of the first players to win six finals in the competition.

Farewell to Real Madrid

In July 2024 he extended his contract until 2025 and became Real’s captain after Nacho’s departure. In August he won his fifth UEFA Super Cup, in December the Intercontinental Cup, and on 3 January 2025 he became the oldest goalscorer in the club’s history, at 39 years and 116 days.

His departure was announced on 22 May 2025, and he played his last match at the Santiago Bernabéu on 24 May against Real Sociedad, with a guard of honour from the players of both teams. In total he played 597 matches for Real and scored 43 goals. He won 28 trophies and became the most decorated player in the club’s history. Some sources give a lower number, depending on which competitions are counted.

The Croatia National Team: From Debut to Captaincy

Modrić played for Croatia at under-15, under-17, under-18, under-19 and under-21 levels, and made his senior debut on 1 March 2006 in a friendly against Argentina in Basel, which Croatia won 3–2. He scored his first goal on 16 August 2006 in a 2–0 win over Italy in Livorno.

At Euro 2008 he scored Croatia’s first goal from a penalty in the fourth minute against Austria and became the youngest goalscorer in Croatia’s history at the European Championships. He was selected for the team of the tournament, only the second Croatian after Davor Šuker. In the quarter-final against Turkey, Croatia went out on penalties.

Croatia did not qualify for the 2010 World Cup, and went out in the group stage at Euro 2012 and the 2014 World Cup. At Euro 2016 Modrić decided the match against Turkey with a long-range volley, and Croatia were beaten by Portugal in the round of 16. He became captain after Darijo Srna’s retirement, during qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, and coach Zlatko Dalić took over the team before the last qualifier against Ukraine.

After the success in Russia, in 2021 Modrić became the most capped player in Croatian history, overtaking Srna. At Euro 2020 he scored against Scotland (3–1) and became Croatia’s oldest goalscorer at the European Championships.

At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Croatia won the bronze medal. They got past Japan and Brazil on penalties, lost the semi-final to Argentina (0–3), and then beat Morocco 2–1 in the third-place match. Modrić won the Bronze Ball. In 2023 Croatia played in the Nations League final, where they lost to Spain on penalties (4–5). At Euro 2024 he scored against Italy and became the oldest goalscorer in the history of the European Championships.

In May 2026 he was included in the squad for his fifth World Cup. Croatia opened the tournament with a defeat to England (2–4), then beat Panama (1–0), a match in which Modrić won his 200th cap. After the win over Ghana (2–1), in which he provided an assist, he became the oldest player to record an assist at a World Cup, at 40 years and 291 days. Croatia were beaten by Portugal 2–1 in the round of 32.

2018 World Cup: The Road to the Final

The 2018 World Cup in Russia was the peak of Luka Modrić’s international career. Croatia were drawn in Group D with Argentina, Iceland and Nigeria. In the first match against Nigeria Modrić scored from a penalty, and against Argentina, in a 3–0 win, he scored from long range. He was named man of the match in both games.

In the round of 16 against Denmark, Modrić missed a penalty in extra time, but was accurate in the shoot-out, and Croatia went through 3–2. In the quarter-final against hosts Russia he assisted Domagoj Vida and then scored again in the shoot-out after a 2–2 draw. In the semi-final, Croatia beat England 2–1 after extra time and reached the final for the first time in their history.

Along the way, together with Ivan Rakitić, Mario Mandžukić and Ivan Perišić, Modrić was a pillar of the second “golden generation” of Croatian football. Although Croatia lost the final on 15 July to France (2–4), Modrić received the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament and was included in the team of the tournament.

Tens of thousands of people welcomed the team home in Zagreb. Modrić and his teammates Danijel Subašić, Šime Vrsaljko and Dominik Livaković were also welcomed by tens of thousands of people in his hometown of Zadar.

Move to AC Milan

On 14 July 2025, Modrić joined AC Milan as a free agent on a contract until 30 June 2026, with an option for one more season. He wears the number 14 shirt. He has described playing for Milan as the fulfilment of a boyhood dream.

He made his debut on 23 August 2025 in a defeat to Cremonese (1–2) and became the oldest debutant in Serie A history. In his second match, against Lecce, he provided an assist in a 2–0 win, and in the third he scored the winning goal against Bologna (1–0), his first in Italy. During the season he was considered one of the most accurate passers in Europe’s five biggest leagues. In all competitions he made 37 appearances and scored two goals, but he had injuries towards the end of the season. Milan finished the league in fifth place, a point behind Como, who took the last Champions League spot.

On 23 July 2026 the club announced that Modrić had extended his contract until 30 June 2027. Milan will play in the Europa League in the new season, under new coach Ruben Amorim, who replaced Massimiliano Allegri.

Playing Style and Role on the Pitch

Modrić is a technically gifted midfielder who controls the tempo of a match and links defence with attack. He is known for his precise passing, long-range shots, often in the trivela style, and for his composure under pressure. Although relatively short, he rarely loses the ball.

Early in his career he played as an attacking midfielder, and at Tottenham Harry Redknapp moved him deeper, which allowed him to read the game better. At Real he played in several midfield positions, alongside Xabi Alonso and Toni Kroos, and later as part of a trio with Kroos and Casemiro. Marcelo Bielsa once said the eight is the hardest position to find a player for, and named the role “the Modrić”, because it demands the defensive qualities of a six and the attacking qualities of a ten.

Because of his intelligence and vision, he has been compared to Paul Scholes, Xavi, Andrés Iniesta and Andrea Pirlo. Johan Cruyff, Alex Ferguson and Pep Guardiola have all praised him publicly. In his season at Milan he had a pass completion rate of 98.8 per cent, the best in Europe’s five biggest leagues.

Greatest Achievements

With 34 major trophies in total, Luka Modrić is the most decorated Croatian footballer of all time. His most important achievements are:

• Champions League: six titles with Real Madrid (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2024).
• La Liga: four titles (2016–17, 2019–20, 2021–22, 2023–24).
• Other trophies with Real: two Copa del Rey titles, five Spanish Super Cups, five UEFA Super Cups and six titles in world club competitions, including the 2024 Intercontinental Cup.
• Croatia national team: silver at the 2018 World Cup, bronze in 2022 and the 2023 Nations League final.
• Dinamo Zagreb: six domestic trophies.
• Individual: the 2018 Ballon d’Or and the 2018 World Cup Golden Ball.

Court Proceedings Linked to the Zdravko Mamić Trial

In 2017 Modrić testified at the trial of Zdravko Mamić, the former head of Dinamo, who was accused of extracting money from the club. He testified about his 2008 transfer to Tottenham and the division of the transfer fee.

In 2018 the prosecutor’s office in Osijek filed an indictment against Modrić for giving a false statement. Modrić maintained that his conscience was clear, and the Croatian Football Federation publicly backed him. The indictment was dismissed that same year. A new indictment was filed in June 2023, but in July 2024 the prosecution abandoned further proceedings, so the case never went to trial.

In its reasoning on the verdict against Mamić, the Supreme Court of Croatia assessed that Modrić’s testimony was not convincing. This assessment had no consequences for Modrić, as no proceedings were being conducted against him.

Private Life

In May 2010, in a private ceremony in Zagreb, Luka Modrić married Vanja Bosnić after four years together. A year later they also married in church. They have three children: Ivano, Sofia and Ema. The family previously lived in Madrid, and Modrić rarely appears in the media outside football.

According to available sources, he is a cousin of the Australian footballer Mark Viduka and the godfather of Mateo Kovačić’s son Ivan. He likes to return to his native Zadar during summer breaks.

In late 2019 he published his autobiography “Moja igra” (“My Game”), written together with the Croatian sports journalist Robert Matteoni. The book deals with his upbringing in wartime conditions, his family and his path to the top of world football. In 2022 Netflix and FIFA released the documentary series “Captains”, in which he appeared as the captain of Croatia.

Business Ventures and Charity Work

Besides football, Modrić is an investor. In 2020 he founded the real estate company Modrić Family SL in Madrid, in 2022 he invested in the Croatian-American company Sportening, and in 2025 he became a 50 per cent co-owner of the “Zeppelin” craft brewery in Croatia. In April 2025 he became a minority co-owner of the Welsh club Swansea City.

He keeps most of his charitable activities private. It has been publicly confirmed that in 2017 he made a substantial donation to an autism association in Zadar, and in 2020, during the pandemic, he donated €100,000 for a mobile X-ray machine for a hospital in Zadar.

Interesting Facts

• He chose the number 14 shirt at Tottenham in honour of Johan Cruyff, and in his youth he was nicknamed “the Croatian Cruyff”.
• At the age of five he tended goats on the slopes of Velebit.
• He scored Croatia’s first goal at Euro 2008 in the fourth minute, the fastest penalty in the history of the European Championships.
• He is the first player to have played at both the European Championship and the World Cup in three different decades.
• He is the oldest player to make a Serie A debut and the oldest to provide an assist at a World Cup.
• After his first months at Real, Marca named him the worst signing of the year, but he later became one of the greatest players in the club’s history.
• The story that his father made him wooden shin guards as a boy is well known in the media, but Modrić himself later denied it.
• In the 2025–26 season he led the five biggest European leagues in pass completion rate.

Awards and Honours

Luka Modrić has won a large number of individual awards over more than two decades at the highest level.

Individual Awards

• Ballon d’Or (2018).
• The Best FIFA Men’s Player (2018) and the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year award (2018).
• World Cup Golden Ball (2018) and World Cup Bronze Ball (2022).
• IFFHS World’s Best Playmaker (2018).
• Named six times in the FIFPro World XI and three times in the UEFA Team of the Year.
• Club World Cup Golden Ball (2017) and Silver Ball (2016).
• Golden Foot (2019).
• AIPS Best Male Athlete in the world (2018).
• Croatian Footballer of the Year a record 14 times, between 2007 and 2025.

Honours in Croatia

• Honorary citizen of the city of Zadar (2018).
• A postage stamp bearing his image, issued by Hrvatska pošta in 2019.
• The Croatian national football team, of which he is captain, was decorated in 2018 with the Order of Duke Branimir with Necklace for an exceptional historic success.

Legacy and Influence

In Croatia Luka Modrić is almost unanimously regarded as the greatest footballer of all time, and Predrag Mijatović has rated him the best footballer in the history of the Balkans. His journey from a refugee hotel in Zadar to the Ballon d’Or has become a symbol of perseverance and faith in one’s own talent.

Croatian universities have published studies on his influence on the economy, tourism and the international image of the country. Together with Ivan Rakitić, Mario Mandžukić and Ivan Perišić, he was the face of the second “golden generation” of Croatian football.

He has also shown that a footballer in his forties can still play at a high level in the strongest leagues. His longevity, composure and football intelligence serve as a model for young players.

Biography – Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Luka Modrić?

Luka Modrić is a Croatian footballer, a midfielder for AC Milan and the captain of the Croatia national team. He is known for winning the 2018 Ballon d’Or and six Champions League titles with Real Madrid.

How old is Luka Modrić?

Luka Modrić was born on 9 September 1985, which means he turned 41 in September 2026.

Where was Luka Modrić born and raised?

He was born in Zadar and raised in the hamlet of Modrići in the village of Zaton Obrovački, on the slopes of Velebit. Because of the war he later lived with his family as a refugee in hotels in Zadar.

Which club does Luka Modrić play for?

He plays for AC Milan, which he joined on 14 July 2025. He extended his contract until 30 June 2027.

How many times has Luka Modrić won the Champions League?

Six times, all with Real Madrid: in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022 and 2024.

When did Luka Modrić win the Ballon d’Or?

He won the Ballon d’Or in 2018, as the first player other than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to do so since 2007, and the first Croatian to receive the award.

Who is Luka Modrić’s wife and how many children does he have?

His wife is Vanja Bosnić, whom he married in May 2010 in Zagreb. They have three children: Ivano, Sofia and Ema.

How tall is Luka Modrić?

According to available sources, he is 172 centimetres tall.

How many caps does Luka Modrić have for the Croatia national team?

He has played more than 200 matches for the national team and is the first Croatian to pass that mark. According to the Croatian Football Federation, he has 202 caps and 29 goals.

Has Luka Modrić retired from the national team?

According to the latest available information, no official retirement has been announced. In the summer of 2026 reports emerged that he would say farewell to the national team in October, but the Croatian Football Federation later confirmed that he is available to head coach Slaven Bilić for the Nations League.

Conclusion

Luka Modrić went from a boy who spent his childhood as a refugee to one of the greatest midfielders in the history of football. Through Dinamo, Tottenham, Real Madrid and AC Milan, as well as the Croatia national team, he has left a mark that goes beyond statistics.

The Ballon d’Or, six Champions League titles, silver and bronze medals at World Cups and countless awards confirm his place among the greats. The biography of Luka Modrić is still being written, as at the age of 41 he continues to play at a high level on the pitch.