Soccer
Milan’s 40-year-old maestro is proving he has plenty left in the tank
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When Luka Modric’s contract at Real Madrid ended in mid-2025 after a legendary 13-season stint, questions abounded. At 39 (soon to be 40), would his move to AC Milan be a sentimental swansong or a last hurrah? Yet nearly two months into Serie A’s 2025-26 season, Modric is showing that his footballing engine still has fire.
Modric officially joined AC Milan in July on a one-year deal with an option to extend, arriving on a free transfer after an illustrious Real Madrid career in which he made 597 appearances for the club, won a staggering six Champions League titles and became one of their most decorated players.
His arrival came amid a changing Milan project: the club had missed out on Europe the prior season and sought experience in midfield. Modric insisted that “average is not acceptable” at Milan, signalling his intent to still perform at a high level. Some observers and critics wondered whether a man approaching 40 could adapt to the speed and demands of a new league, or whether the patchwork of a Milan midfield might blunt his influence.
Yet so far, he appears to have settled remarkably quickly. In his maiden Serie A season, he has taken no time to register his influence – Modrić scored his first Serie A goal for Milan in a 1-0 home win over Bologna in mid-September, netting the decisive strike.
The goal came just days after his 40th birthday, making him one of the most senior midfielders to score in Italy’s top division.
Beyond that moment, his midfield contributions have been typically assured and consistent. Manager Massimiliano Allegri will surely me mindful of the Croatian veteran’s workload, but so far, with four of his five appearances coming as starts, Modric looks in peak fettle.
While Milan’s midfield contains younger and more dynamic elements, Modric’s composure, positional awareness and passing range remain points of reference, especially in tight matches where control matters more than burst.
It would be fanciful to suggest Modric has reclaimed the vigour of his late 20s. But what has become clear is that he brings what only a veteran can: game intelligence, timing, leadership and an aura that can steady teammates. That goal against Bologna was not just symbolic – it was evidence he can still deliver in the moments that count.
There is still a long season ahead. Milan will test whether he can maintain his current levels, avoid injury and influence games when opponents target him. But for now, in his 41st year, Modric is rewriting expectations. The move that many feared would be a coda is proving to be another movement: not closure but continuation.
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