Captain Luka Modric etched his name in Real Madrid’s history by becoming the oldest player to represent the club at 39 years and 40 days old during their 2-1 victory against Celta Vigo in La Liga on Saturday. With this achievement, the Croatian midfielder surpassed the previous record held 58 years back by Ferenc Puskas since 1966 by four days.
Ancelotti Praises Modric’s Legacy
When asked about Modric’s legacy at the club, Ancelotti said, “There’s nothing more to say about his fantastic game; he is a great professional with immense character. Real Madrid has been, and is, fortunate to have him.” Modric holds the record for the most titles in Real Madrid’s history, 27, which includes six Champions League trophies and four La Liga titles.
Impact as a substitute
Coming on as a second-half substitute after Celta equalised, the former Ballon d’Or winner quickly made an impact. Modric provided the crucial assist for Vinicius Junior’s winning goal in the 66th minute at Balaidos Stadium. Madrid’s coach Carlo Ancelotti praised Modric, stating, “It was a tough match, but we managed to hold on and secured three vital points thanks to a brilliant pass from Modric. He always brings something special to the team.”
Match highlights
Kylian Mbappe put Real Madrid ahead with a long-range goal in the 20th minute, only for Celta’s Williot Swedberg to level the score in the 51st minute from a cross by Oscar Mingueza. This set the stage for Modric’s introduction, which proved pivotal for the defending champions.
Celta’s resilience vs Real Madrid
Despite the defeat, Celta Vigo put up a strong fight against the defending champions. Thibaut Courtois made crucial saves from Swedberg and Jonathan Bamba, while Celta substitute Anastasios Douvikas narrowly missed scoring an equaliser in extra time. Celta midfielder Fran Beltran expressed a bittersweet sentiment, stating, “We played well against Real Madrid and were the better side at times.”
Upcoming matches
This victory kept Real Madrid unbeaten through 10 rounds of La Liga, allowing them to draw level with Barcelona. They now look ahead to a busy schedule, with a home game against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday, followed by the first El Clásico of the season against Barcelona next weekend.
Modric’s record in Real Madrid
Luka Modric has an impressive record at Real Madrid with over 547 matches. The Croatian midfielder has scored 39 goals and provided 89 assists, showcasing his great playmaking ability. Modric’s contributions have been important in Real Madrid’s success, making him one of the club’s all-time greats.
