Croatia became independent six years after Luka Modric was born. Luka Modric, who is older than independent Croatia, taught him to dream big. Saying goodbye to the World Cup by charging a nation and a new generation. Watch the video:
He started hitting the ball in the small circle of the refugee camp. As he grew up and turned to a professional football career, the sarcasm blossomed. Many people asked how he could stand on the field with this body that looked like he was wasted. But he was not ready to give up. Walked step by step to the heights of world football. His name is Luka Modric.
In the semi-final against Argentina, he had the grace of giving his own country a place on the football map when he stepped out of the World Cup. Baby Luca’s childhood was spent on paths buried by mines that could explode at any time. Wartime in Croatia. Enemy forces can attack at any time. Things quickly turned sour. His grandfather has been missing for three days. Serbian army attacks Croat villages. They know the truth late that the old man who went to graze the cow has been shot dead by the enemy army. Luca’s father left the place with his wife and children when he realized that Panty was no longer standing there. The latter were in a refugee camp in Sadar town. Luca kicked the ball and walked through the corridors of that camp.
After Croatia became independent, his dreams also took off. The leading clubs of the country kept him aside because of his fitness. Finally in 2002 at Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb. From there to Tottenham in 2008. The 23-year-old received a salary of Rs 160 crore that day. Four years later, Spanish giants Real Madrid signed Luka Modric. The signing that changed Modric’s career. The contract with the club was for 291 crore rupees. Modric played a huge role in Real Madrid’s Champions League triumphs.
In 2018, Modric brought Croatia closer to the dream of the World Cup. Modric and Croatia returned with their heads held high despite losing to France in the final. The Golden Ball for the best player was firmly in his hands. Modric said at the time, ‘We have conquered the world. Returning with inspiration for the new generation’. Modric also won FIFA’s best player award of the same year. That too has been held by Messi and Ronaldo for years. When he arrived in Qatar four years later, he was 37. Many people frowned at what he could do at this age. But he dismissed all the criticism. He was a driving force in Croatia’s attack, midfield and defence. Having inspired a generation, Luka Modric returns from the world stage to become the number 10.