Real Madrid’s Luka Modric, left, challenges for the ball with Sevilla’s Alvaro Garcia-Pascual during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Sevilla and Real Madrid at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville, Spain, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)
Luka Modric leaving Real Madrid after the Club World Cup
MADRID (AP) 鈥 Real Madrid and midfielder Luka Modri膰 鈥 the most decorated player in the club’s history 鈥 have agreed to part ways after the Club World Cup.
Real Madrid’s Luka Modric, left, challenges for the ball with Sevilla’s Alvaro Garcia-Pascual during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Sevilla and Real Madrid at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville, Spain, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)
MADRID (AP) 鈥 Real Madrid and midfielder Luka Modri膰 鈥 the most decorated player in the club’s history 鈥 have agreed to part ways after the Club World Cup.
The 39-year-old Modric will leave after an 鈥渦nforgettable time as a player at our club,鈥 Madrid said on Thursday.
鈥淩eal Madrid wishes to express its immense gratitude and appreciation for a player who has become a true legend both of our club and world football.”
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Modric arrived at Madrid in 2012 and became a key player during one of the most successful periods in the club鈥檚 history.
In 13 seasons, Modric helped the club win 28 titles: Six European Cups, six Club World Cups, five European Super Cups, four Spanish leagues, two Copas del Rey and five Spanish Super Cups.
He had been playing fewer minutes in recent seasons under coach Carlo Ancelotti.
The Club World Cup starts mid-June in the United States, and Madrid will pay tribute to Modric in its last match of the season on Saturday against Real Sociedad in La Liga at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
鈥淟uka Modric will forever remain in the hearts of all madridistas (Madrid fans) as a unique and exemplary footballer who has always embodied the values of Real Madrid,鈥 club president Florentino P茅rez said. 鈥淗is football has captured the imagination of madridismo and fans all over the world. His legacy will live on forever.鈥
Modric has 590 appearances for Madrid 鈥 eighth on the club’s all-time list 鈥 and 43 goals.
He is one of only five players to have won six European Cups.
In 2018, Modric won the Ballon d鈥橭r, was named FIFA鈥檚 best men鈥檚 player and UEFA鈥檚 men鈥檚 player of the year. Twice he’s been named the best midfielder in the Champions League.
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Modric’s 186 matches for Croatia make him the nation鈥檚 record-holder for international appearances. He won the Golden Ball at the 2018 World Cup in Russia 鈥 where Croatia lost the final to France 鈥 and the Bronze Ball at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
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