Credit: @RealMadrid / X

“My Dream Is Clear” – Luka Modric Reveals He Wants To Retire at Real Madrid

Modric rolled back the years with a tireless display against France in the first leg of the UEFA Nations League quarter-final.

Credit: @RealMadrid / X

At 38 years old, Luka Modric continues to defy age and expectations. The Real Madrid midfielder put in a vintage performance on Thursday night as he guided his Croatia team to a 2-0 victory over France in the first leg of their UEFA Nations League quarter-final. He even managed to outshine his younger club teammates Kylian Mbappe, Aurélien Tchouameni, and Eduardo Camavinga in the process.

Modric was instrumental in dictating the tempo from midfield. His influence was felt throughout the 90 minutes. He even provided a moment of magic which led to the opening goal. Modric produced a stunning lofted pass to Ivan Perisic, who then delivered a perfect assist for Ante Budimir to open the scoring.

Modric rolled back the years with a tireless display. He finished the match with 80 touches, 48 completed passes out of 55, six interceptions and six duels. Perhaps the most memorable moment of the night came in the 88th minute, when he made a superb last-ditch tackle on Kylian Mbappe, denying France a late lifeline.

Luka Modric vs France

Almost 40 years of age…pic.twitter.com/EiyA9aTv7w
— Omar 🇦🇪 (@_Wangster) March 21, 2025

No Hurry: Modric on Signing Contract Extension

After the match, Luka Modric expressed his desire to retire at Real Madrid. Speaking to Telefoot, the Croatian addressed speculation around a potential contract extension, making it clear that while nothing is finalized yet, his heart remains at the Santiago Bernabeu.

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Luka Modric said, “New contract to be signed at Real Madrid? No hurry. The season is still long, we have many more games. Then we will see. My dream is clear, to retire at Real Madrid.”

🚨⚪️ Luka Modrić: “New contract to be signed at Real Madrid? No hurry. The season is still long, we have many more games. Then we will see”.

“My dream is clear, to retire at Real Madrid”, told Telefoot. pic.twitter.com/Pcd5fiUGA2
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 22, 2025

France will host Croatia in the second leg in Paris on Sunday, aiming to overturn the 2-0 deficit. With a place in the semi-finals at stake, Les Bleus will be under pressure to produce a much-improved performance in front of their home crowd. The winner of this tie will go on to face either defending champions Spain or the Netherlands in the final four.

Luka Modric

Real Madrid

Abhinav Goel

soccer

I am a soccer writer at The PlayOffs, covering everything from match analysis to transfer buzz and tactical deep dives. Ever since I was a kid, soccer has been more than just a sport to me—it’s been an obsession. Playing and watching the game from a young age fueled my passion, eventually leading me into the world of sports media and betting. Now, I get to analyze the sport I love and bring the latest updates to fans worldwide.