Luka Modrić is celebrating his 39th birthday today, and he set the perfect stage for the party by scoring the only goal in Croatia’s narrow 1-0 victory over Poland last night. The legendary midfielder executed a stunning free-kick from the edge of the box in the 52nd minute, securing all three points for his country in their UEFA Nations League clash.
Luka Modrić scored a perfect free kick on the eve of his 39th birthday.
Class 🍷 pic.twitter.com/L1xsvDiDJE
— B/R Football (@brfootball) September 8, 2024
This goal marks Modrić’s 27th international strike in what was his 180th appearance for Croatia. With this match, he became the second-most-capped European player in history, just behind Cristiano Ronaldo, who has 214 caps.
After the game, Modrić reflected on his future, saying, “With me, you never know. We have to take it game by game! I can’t think about the future. When I no longer feel the fire in me, I’ll retire. Only I can feel that fire and make the decision.”
Modrić’s storied career has seen him win the Ballon d’Or in 2018, ending the long dominance of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. He has also claimed five Champions League titles with Real Madrid and was instrumental in leading Croatia to the World Cup final in 2018.