Modric is Benjamin Button

“In old age, smallpox.” That maxim has been etched by Luka Modric (35 years old). The talented Croatian footballer returned to give a game recital in Los Cármenes. And it doesn't seem like he's the last in the remainder of the campaign: every time he jumps onto a pitch, the little footballer seems to rejuvenate Benjamin Button style, the movie starred in Brad Pitt in 2008 based on a story by Francis Fitzgerald Scott. Like wines, Modric improves over the years …

Against Granada he opened the scoring by taking advantage of a formidable pass from Miguel Gutiérrez. He knew how to sneak into the space between the ball, the touchline and Rui Silva to sneak the ball between the legs of the Portuguese goalkeeper. But his exhibition did not stay there: He tried to give 106 passes (the Nasrid midfield gave 129), of which 94 found companions (88.7%: he made a mistake in the remaining 12, 11.3%), recovered five balls, but lost 18 … all that in their 55th game of the campaign: between Real Madrid (46 games: they have only lost three league games out of the 36 played) and the Croatian national team (another nine). The data that reveals his state of form is that has completed 90 minutes in 31 matches in total: 56.36% of the total. His year with the most matches played since 2014. “It shows why it has been the Ballon d'Or. He doesn't hide and the level he gives is incredible,” explained his teammate Courtois at the end of the match.

Without going further, In the nine years that he has been wearing white, he has always played more than 40 games per season except in two seasons, 2014-15. (He suffered a muscle break that made him miss 17 league games, and then had another knee injury that made him miss the last six league games: his absence was key in the elimination in the Champions League against Juventus) and 2016-17 (Due to another knee problem that had him absent for 39 days: another four league games). Modric's secret is in the mind of Vlatko Vucetic, a guru professor at the Faculty of Kinesiology in Zagreb: has prepared a specific plan for recovery of efforts and feeding so that it can appear that it is preserved in formaldehyde.

The losses are a fact to take into account seeing that Kroos has been playing for almost two months (since the call with Germany last March), and at the almost invisible level of Casemiro: the Brazilian was aware and is a key pillar for the battle of San Mamés next Sunday, so he decided not to risk. So leaning on the indefatigable squire Valverde, Modric threw the team on his back once more. And the game was played once again under the criteria and leadership of the Croatian.

Total He has 389 games with the white jersey in which he has scored 27 goals (in the League, as long as Madrid has scored, he has not lost) and has provided 63 assists (he has participated in 90 goals in total). He has won four Champions League, two Leagues (who knows if the whites do not renew the title), a Copa del Rey, three Spanish Super Cups, as many in Europe and four Club World Cups. Individually, their performance has been highly valued, as demonstrated The throphy The Best and the Golden Ball which he conquered in 2018 after being European champion with Madrid and world runner-up with Croatia. He has more than earned his continuity in the white team: its continuity is already approved. There will be Luka Modric in Madrid until at least 2022. The white fans will continue to enjoy the Croatian. Of Benjamin Button of Real Madrid.