Luka Modric wore the Real Madrid captain’s armband for the first time this week in the win against Inter Milan. The Croatian played the entire 90 minutes against the Serie A champions as Madrid won the group in the final game.
“I feel very good,” said Modric after Real Madrid’s 2-0 victory over Inter.
“I think you don’t have to look at the years, you have to look at what you do on the pitch and the years are less and less noticeable because careers are prolonged. I feel very good and I feel that I am younger than 30.”
The 2018 Ballon d’Or award winner is currently 36 years old. His contract with Real Madrid expires at the end of the season as of now. But, the board considers him a key part of the team and is working to renew his deal for another season, until 2023. He will be 37 years old by the time his new deal runs out, if indeed he pens one in the upcoming months.
Who are the other Real Madrid legends that played at older ages besides Luka Modric?
Miguel Munoz is one of the first names, with the player stepping onto the pitch at 36 before turning to coaching. Alfredo di Stefano, the man that Madrid have named their training ground after, is also among the oldest players to have featured for the club. He left at the age of 37 years and 328 days.
The oldest, however, is the great Ferenc Puskas, who played for Los Blancos at the age of 39 years and 36 days. As a result, there is a slim chance that Luka Modric will be able to earn the title of the oldest to ever feature for Los Merengues. But, you can never count the Croatian icon out of a contest, as we have clearly seen in the past.
