Luka Modric is arguably one of the best midfielders of this generation. However, growing up most people didn’t believe he would make it into the football field due to his small body physique while growing up. With most people judging him for his physical appearance, Modric decided to put in the work, playing alone in his family’s hotel room.
His journey to the football world has emerged as one of the most inspiring stories and in this article, we cover the transition, from playing alone in a hotel room to becoming a world-class footballer.
Who is Luka Modric?
Luka Modric is a Croatian professional footballer who has had a successful career at the club and international levels. Modric currently plays as a midfielder for the Spanish club Real Madrid and his native country Croatia.
Since joining Real Madrid in the summer of 2012, Modric has won four Champions League titles and he’s currently one of the team’s key players.
Speaking of the international level, Modric has represented Croatia at numerous tournaments, he has led his country to two World Cup tournaments and finished in the top four positions in both tournaments.
His tantalizing talent has won numerous awards and accolades, including the celebrated Ballon d’Or in 2018.
Luka Modric Background and Family
Luka Modric was born on September 9, 1985, in Zadar, Croatia, and grew up in a village called Modrici locate on the Southern slopes of the mountain Velebit. Following the Croatian war in 1991, his family became refugees and fled their home after their grandfather was executed. After fleeing from their home they started living in a hotel room in Zadar.
Following the hostile environment caused by the war, Modric was forced to play at the hotel’s parking lot where NK Zadar chairman spotted him. However, his small physique was a concern as many didn’t see him getting to a pro level.
After sharpening his skills in the parking lot, he decided to try his luck and joined Hajduk for trials but he was rejected since he was too tiny for his age. At the age of 16 years, he earned a spot at Dinamo Zagreb which gave him the platform to showcase his talent without judging his body physique.
Career
Modric began his journey in the late 90s playing for Croatian clubs starting with NK Zadar and later moving to Dinamo Zagreb, where he won several domestic league and cup titles. In 2008, Modric moved to English Premier League, signing a six-year deal with Tottenham Hotspur. He became a key player for the club and helped lead them to several top-four finishes in the league.
In 2012 he left Tottenham Hotspur, where he had spent four seasons, and joined Spanish giants, Real Madrid signing a five-year deal with the club. In his first season with the club, he helped Real Madrid clinch the Copa del Rey as well as the Supercopa de España. The following season, he helped the team win the Champions League and the Super Cup, On top of that he was named Croatian player of the year.
Since his arrival at the club, he has been used as a regular starter, helping the team win the Champions League three more times and the La Liga title once.
In 2018 Modric was named the best player in the world, winning the Ballon d’Or award. On top of that, he has also won other awards and accolades for his performances, including the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year award in 2018 and the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball in 2018.
At the international level, Modric has represented Croatia at numerous major tournaments as well as group stages. Modric made his senior debut for the Croatian squad in 2006, making two appearances in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. In 2010, he played a key role in helping Croatia qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
In 2018, he was officially appointed as the Croatian captain and he has played a key role in the success of the Croatian national team. After his appointment in 2018, he helped Croatia gets to the finals but they were defeated by France, finishing as runners. In 2022, Modric led Croatia to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and led a successful campaign finishing in third place after winning against Morocco.
Luka Modric Personal Life
Luka Modric Age
Modric was born on September 9th, 1985.
Wife and Kids
The Croatian star is married to Vanja Bosnic. The love bird has been blessed with three children together, Ivano, Ema, and Sofia. The two officiated their union in 2010 and are they live a very private life. Modric is known to be close with his family and often speaks about the importance of his family in most interviews.
Luka Modric Salary
Playing for of the biggest football team, Luka is one of the highest earners on the football field. Modric earns a yearly Salary of £14,456,000 and a weekly Salary of £278,000. He has a net worth of £120,380,000. His wealth has been highly accumulated by his salary.
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