Luka Modric: The magic that extends the World Cup farewell

David Beckham, Luis Figo, Wayne Rooney, the two Ronaldos, Zinedine Zidane...Rio Madrid coach Carlos Cuvieros, who has been in the world of football for 40 to 41 years, has coached many great players. Last week, his new team, Ghana, strategized to beat England's biggest players in the chest. But he could not solve some problems. "He's magic," said Cuevas, as Luka Modric starred in Croatia's 2-1 win. "Efforts to stop him are very difficult. It's not just us, it's been going on for 10 years." 10? The period for this is 20, Carlos, because Modric's 41st birthday is short. It was Modric's 201st cap against Ghana and his first cap since the 2006 World Cup. Twice as a substitute, he remains a member of the team. But this is not surprising - he has also been at his clubs for a long time, which is more surprising, because he spent 13 successful years at Rio Madrid. In 2025, he moved to the Milan club. But after he won four Spanish League Cups, two Cups and six Champions League files. Other individual awards: 14 Croatia Player of the Year awards, six FIFPro World XI selections, two La Liga's best centre-backs, two Champions League best centre-backs, only player of the year award at the World Cup and one Ballon d'Or (the only person outside of Cristiano or Leo to win between 2008 and 2021). But you know about it. Modric has been fantastic wherever he has been, from Jago to Tottenham, Madrid to Milan. At the match in Philadelphia, he was everywhere, which Croatia desperately needed. Croatia needed at least a point to clinch the title, with Modric and another pass master, Matto Kovacic, controlling the center in the early stages. Ghana can't afford Cuvierosin's project.

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