The best player of the 2018 World Cup in Russia is Luka Modric. Biography

Croatian midfielder Luka Modric is one of the most decorated footballers in the history of world football. Modric is the winner of the 2018 Golden Ball, a six—time winner of the UEFA Champions League, a silver medalist at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and recognized as the best player of the tournament. He went from a refugee during the Yugoslav civil war to a Real Madrid legend and captain of the Croatian national team. About his life and sports career — in the material of Izvestia.

Childhood and youth: war and football

Luka Modric was born on September 9, 1985 in the Croatian city of Zadar (then Yugoslavia) in the family of a mechanic and a seamstress. He has a younger sister, Yasmina. The future world football star spent his childhood in a village near Zadar. He led the life of an ordinary village boy and even tended goats.

When the civil war broke out, the family was forced to flee. The footballer's paternal grandfather was brutally murdered by the rebels. Modric and his family lived in a refugee camp in Makarska, then in the Kolovar Hotel in Zadar, where there was sometimes no water or electricity. Despite the difficult conditions, he learned to play soccer in parking lots, and training sessions were often interrupted by air raid sirens.

At the age of seven or eight, he amazed the coaches with his technique and did something that not all adults could repeat. Being puny and short (his height at maturity is 172 cm), Modric spent hours hanging on a horizontal bar, trying to stretch out. It was his perseverance and talent that helped him compensate for his lack of physical strength.

The beginning of his career: Dinamo Zagreb and leases

In 1992, Modric's father sent him to the football school of the Zadar club. The family lived modestly, and his first shields were made of wood by a coach. Dinamo Zagreb's scouts spotted the young footballer's talent, and in 2002, 16-year-old Modric signed a contract with the club.

At first he played for the youth team, and then went on loan to the Bosnian club "Zrinjski" (Mostar), where in 2003, before reaching the age of 18, he was recognized as the best player of the championship of Bosnia and Herzegovina. After returning from a loan spell and another season on loan at Inter Croatia, he established himself at the heart of Dinamo Zagreb. In the 2005-06 season, he played all 32 league matches and won his first of three championships with the club.

Tottenham and the path to the Premier League

In 2008, Modric joined Tottenham Hotspur in London. It was in England that he revealed himself as a world-class player, becoming a key player of the team. He quickly adapted to the style of the English Premier League (Premier League), demonstrating excellent ball control, field vision and the ability to give accurate passes. His game attracted the attention of the strongest clubs in Europe.

Real Madrid: the Legendary Era

In 2012, Modric joined Real Madrid. His first season at the Bernabeu was difficult: he was even called one of the worst transfers in La Liga (the Spanish championship). However, Modric managed to turn the situation around and become not just a foundation player, but the leader and "brain" of the team.

During his time playing for the Madrid club, Modric participated in 597 matches, in which he scored 43 goals and provided 95 assists. As a member of the Royal Club, he won six Champions League titles (including three in a row from 2016 to 2018), five World Club championships, five UEFA Super Cups, four Spanish league titles, two Spanish Cups and five Spanish Super Cups. In total, he won 28 trophies during his career at Real Madrid.

Croatia national team: the way to the 2018 World Cup finals

Modric made his debut for the Croatian national team in 2006 in a friendly match against Argentina. Over time, he became the captain of the team and its undisputed leader. At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Modric, as captain, led his team to a historic final. Along the way, the Croatian national team beat Denmark, Russia and England before losing to France in the final with a score of 2:4. This result was the best in the history of independent Croatia.

On the international stage, Modric continued to lead the Croatian national team to new successes. He won bronze medals at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and in 2023 he became the silver medalist of the UEFA Nations League.

Golden Ball and recognition as the best player in the world

For his outstanding performance at the 2018 World Cup, Luka Modric received the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament, becoming the seventh player in history to receive this award, despite the fact that his team did not win the tournament. In the same year, as a Real Madrid player, he won the France Football Golden Ball, the main individual award in the world of football, interrupting the 11—year hegemony of Argentine Lionel Messi and Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo. Also in 2018, he was recognized as the best player of the year by FIFA and UEFA.

Personal life

Modric is married to Vanya Bosnich, whom he met in his youth. The couple has three children.: son Ivan and two daughters — Ema and Sofia. His wife is known for taking an active part in his career: she analyzes his matches and gives advice. Besides football, Modric enjoys tennis and is a big fan of rock music.

End of career

In 2025, after 12 seasons at Real Madrid, Modric left the club and joined the Italian Milan. According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, he intends to end his career after the world Championship. At the age of 40, he continues to perform at the highest level, remaining a key player for both the club and the national team. By 2026, he had played 198 matches for the Croatian national team.