PHILADELPHIA — Luka Modric’s Croatian teammates on Saturday couldn’t agree on what decade he appeared to be inhabiting much less a specific age.
The program says that the Croatian captain is 40 years old. His magisterial poise on the ball and unerring command of spaces suggest 30. His blanketing of the field shades closer to 20.
Philadelphia has been granted glimpses of greatness in this tournament, none more so than a brace scored by Kylian Mbappe and a chance to see two world powers at Lincoln Financial Field in a July 4 Round-of-16 clash. But Modric’s performance in a 2-1 win over Ghana ranks high among them.
In a game where Croatia needed a result to ensure its World Cup continued, Modric delivered.
“Luka was unbelievable today,” fellow midfielder Nikola Vlasic testified. “I swear, it seems like he turned time (back) 10 years. Really, one of the best performances I saw him doing in a Croatia shirt.”
“I told him after the game, you play like you’re 20 years old,” said forward Petar Sucic, himself all of 22. “He was incredible today. He runs a lot. He goes into every duel. He was incredible with the ball. He is our leader, he is our best player and we’re so happy he can lead us in this World Cup. He can play until he wants, he’s so good.”
Croatia’s Luka Modric dribbles past Ghana midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi during the second of Saturday’s World Cup Group L game in Philadelphia. (Mikey Reeves/For MediaNews Group)
The paeans to Modric seem still insufficient.
Sucic was voted the Man of the Match by FIFA, but Modric had a claim to it, given the highest game score by FotMob. The central midfielder controlled the pitch. He led all players with 102 touches. He created four chances, the most for any player, in a game that featured just 14 total shots and 18 combined touches in the opponents’ box.
Modric added five defensive actions, with a game-high two blocks, two tackles and two recoveries.
“Luka was truly fantastic,” head coach Zlatko Dalic said via a FIFA interpreter “Just as he was throughout his career, that’s how he was tonight. This is something that he deserved. I think he gave his best today and I think they played well especially tactically.”
And, oh, by the way, Modric set up the game-winning goal. Croatia took the lead in the 31st minute via Sucic.
Ghana, already guaranteed to move onto the knockout stage, tipped the game onto more level terms in the second half, finally cashing in on a set-piece goal from defender Derrick Luckassen in the 73rd that withstood video review.
Mario Pasalic forced a tremendous save from Benjamin Asare in the 82nd, leading to a corner. Modric delivered, and while the plan wasn’t to aim for Vlasic, he found the Torino attacker in a textbook spot between the top of the six-yard box and the penalty spot for Vlasic to head home.
“On the goal, I think I needed to do a block,” Vlasic admitted. “But the ball arrived to me, so I shot it with my head. It’s not like it was some action, but thank God the goal went in.”
Planned or not, the 40-year-old Modric became the oldest player ever to record an assist at a World Cup. With his 200th cap against Panama last week, he became just the fourth man in history to hit a double century of appearances. As he made clear Saturday, he’s not just there on reputation.
Modric has achieved so much in the game.
Now playing for AC Milan, the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner has been 14 times named the Croatian Footballer of the Year dating back 19 years. He’s won six Champions League titles with Real Madrid and five of the old FIFA Club World Cups. He was the bedrock of Croatian teams that finished runner-up at the 2018 World Cup and third at the 2022 World Cup.
For the remnants of that golden generation — Saturday was cap No. 157 for left back/midfielder Ivan Persicic and No. 116 for Modric’s midfield running mate Mateo Kovacic — Saturday could’ve been the end of the road.
Modric wouldn’t let that happen, almost personally.
“That’s his character, and his energy,” Dalic said. “He made an assist and he saved a goal twice. He didn’t give up. He was getting better and better. He was an example of how things should be. He’s aware this is his last World Cup. He’s doing best as he says goodbye to the World Cup.”