With the sound of hissing gunshots, a shepherd baby, through the thick smoke, ascended to the throne of Mr. Golden Globe.
It's a legend.
Luka Modric is now a thunderous name in football. But perhaps, even he himself would not believe that the boy who had been torn between the fires of war could one day play a full 400 games in the world's greatest football club.
With the whistle blowing at the final whistle of the first Spanish national derby in 2021, Modric became the oldest player to appear in this century's national derby with a record of 36 years and 45 days. Moreover, this game is also the 400th game that the Magic Flute has played for Real Madrid. After the match, chairman Florentino presented him with a commemorative shirt, Modric has deservedly become a shining puzzle in real Madrid's glorious history, and the name is undoubtedly inscribed on the Hall of Fame of the best midfielder in history.
A shepherd baby coming out of the smoke
Modric was born in Zadar, the former Yugoslavia, in 1985. Not far from the small house where he and his grandfather lived, there stood a sign - "No Entry". The reason is simple: Zadar was in an enemy-occupied area at the time, and there may have been mines planted by the enemy near the house. Every day, little Luca and her grandfather herd sheep for a living, in addition to guarding against the green-eyed jackals, but also from rifles spitting fireworks. They are not imprisoned, but they are no different from prisoners.
(Pictured) Modric herding sheep in his infancy
But pastoralists, as well as refugees, can at least make ends meet. Unfortunately, on a cold winter day, little Luca's grandfather was brutally shot by the militants, and the young Luka and his parents went on a journey of escape. After staying in an abandoned hotel for seven years, 12-year-old Modric finally got a chance to try out. In these seven years, football was his only happiness, but this trial training did not become the starting point for him to change his destiny.
The road to football
The invitation to this trial was made by croatia's Hajduk club. However, they withdrew their olive branch after the evaluation because Modric was too thin. This refusal made Luca Jr. heartbroken, and even wanted to give up his dream of football at one point. Fortunately, Dinamo Zagreb's coaching manager, Mamić, became his Bole, and his acceptance gave the skinny boy the opportunity to pursue his dreams. After several years of tossing and turning, Modric has finally become the absolute main force of the team, and his performance has attracted the attention of Tottenham Hotspur. Finally, in the summer of 2008, Modric parachuted into White Hart Lane to begin his four-year Premier League career.
From "traitor" to "parallel cargo"
Flamboyant and practical technique, dexterity and tough style of play, these qualities have made Modric play at Tottenham. Soon, Real Madrid, who was far away in Spain, threw an olive branch to the magic flute. In order to join Real Madrid, Modric did not hesitate to go publicly, and all salary increases or fines, retention or intimidation were not worth mentioning in front of his dreams. Finally, Tottenham chose to release the man, and the magic flute was draped in the robes of the white legion as he wished. However, after landing on the Iberian Peninsula, Modric seemed to lose his spirituality, and in his first season he was even named "the biggest parallel cargo in La Liga". It wasn't until the Champions League quarter-finals against Manchester United scored that world wave that Modric gradually found his rhythm.
World Footballer of the Year
After a short dormancy, the magic of the magic flute gradually revealed. Especially under Carlo Ancelotti and Zidane, Modric's flowing style of the ball was completely activated. His ceremonial midfielder with Kroos and Casemiro not only monopolized the selection list of the best teams, but also brought one trophy after another for Real Madrid. After completing the three consecutive Champions League titles, Modric led the Croatian national team to the 2018 World Cup final as captain.
Under the storm of French youth, Croatia failed to win the cup, but that summer, a rhapsody of Croatia that year remained forever in the annals of world football. It was also that year that a task that should have been completed by Neymar, Hazard, Griezmann and other "third people in the world" was completed by the 33-year-old Magic Flute. With the outstanding results of the club and national team, the magic flute did not hesitate to take the Ballon d'Or award into the pocket, breaking the football myth of Mero's ten-year monopoly.
Once upon a time, there were many key words around Modric, "genius", "traitor", "low key", "elegance", "elegance", "elegance", these are all fragments of Croatian life's life. And now, on the 36-year-old magic flute, all these fragments of streamers have precipitated into one word - master.
(Pictured) Modric "teasing" Busquets
Nine years ago, the 27-year-old Modric was named the "biggest parallel cargo in La Liga"; nine years later, Real Madrid are still looking for a successor for the 36-year-old Magic Flute. It is difficult to find the next flute, and it is not easy to keep the current flute. It has proven that no matter how meritorious and high-status players are, it is difficult to hang up at the Bernabeu, but no matter what the next stop, Modric has become a well-deserved legend in world football.
I don't know how long Modric's gorgeous performance will last in the future. For fans, it is not necessary to sigh helplessness after leaving, and it is not a fortunate thing to see and cherish. However, at least for the moment, his graceful dance steps have not been inferior in the slightest. The hero is in his old age, and the final chapter of the magic flute is still far from being played.
Image source network intrusion deletion
Article author: Zhao En
Editor-in-Charge: Ye Wenbin