Luka Modrić breaks record as oldest player in Real Madrid history in European competitions
- by croatiaweek
- in Sport
Luka Modrić (Photo credit: Светлана Бекетова/ soccer.ru/CC BY-SA 3.0)
Croatia captain Luka Modrić has set a new record and has become the oldest Real Madrid player ever to have played in European club competitions.
The 38-year-old came on for Jude Bellingham in the 75th minute in Real Madrid’s 2-2 draw in the first leg against Bayern Munich in Munich last night.
Apart from becoming the oldest Real Madrid player to have played in European competitions, Modrić also surpassed Robert Carlos on the all-time appearances list.
Last night was Modrić’s 528th appearance for Real Madrid, which puts him in third place, behind Marcelo (546 appearances) and Karim Benzema (648).
At 38 years and 234 days, Luka became the oldest player for Real Madrid to play in the Cup or the Champions League. He surpassed the legendary Ferenc Puskas, who was five days younger when he set the record on November 17, 1965, against Kilmarnock.
In third place for the oldest Real Madrid players in the Champions League is Buyo (38 years, 53 days), followed by Alfredo Di Stéfano (37 years, 268 days), and Jerzy Dudek (37 years, 260 days).
Luka Modrić became only the eighth player in Champions League history to play in the semi-finals at the age of 38 or older.
The list includes greats like Jean-Luc Ettori for Monaco in 1993/94, Lothar Matthäus for Bayern in 1998/99, Alessandro Costacurta for Milan in 2005/06, Paolo Maldini for Milan in 2006/07, Edwin van der Sar for Manchester United in 2008/09 and 2010/11, Mark Schwarzer for Chelsea in 2013/14, as well as Gianluigi Buffon for Juventus in 2016/17.
With 38 years and 234 days, #Croatia captain @lukamodric10 becomes the oldest ever @realmadrid player to play in the @ChampionsLeague, surpassing the legendary Ferenc Pusksas! 👏
— HNS (@HNS_CFF) May 1, 2024
🔸 100% passing accuracy, 1 big chance created in 15 minutes in Munich
Hats off. 🎩#Family… pic.twitter.com/hoSxKk6jwN
So, he’s only the fourth outfield player to achieve this feat.
