In the early morning of December 18, the third place match of the World Cup in Qatar came to an end. Thanks to two goals from Gervadior and Olšić, Croatia beat Morocco 2-1 and won third place in the World Cup after 1998. Luka Modric, who played for Croatia for the 162nd time, also completed his last dance at the World Cup with a bronze medal.
A legend that came out of war
Modric was born in 1985 in a slum in Zadar, Croatia, to parents who worked in woolen mills. Without a carefree childhood, the war allowed Modric to follow his family from the age of 6 to a life of exile. With heavy history comes endless grief, and during that time, football was Modric's only source of joy.
Whether in an overgrown street or an abandoned factory, one can always see a skinny boy running with a football. Later, his parents sent little Modric to Zadar FC training camp. Here his talent is gradually revealed. In 2001, Modric was selected by Croatian giants Dinamo Zagreb and began his career.
Modric quickly became the core of the team, helping the team win the Croatian league four times. During his loan spell at Mostar Zliniski, he was named Premier League Footballer of the Year. Such performances quickly caught the attention of European teams, including giants such as Barcelona, Chelsea and Arsenal. On 26 April 2008, Modric joined Tottenham Hotspur for a transfer fee of 22.5 million euros, officially entering the five major leagues, and the legend began.
"The Magic Flute" broke Mero's 10-year monopoly
However, the intensity of the Premier League has made the Croatian suffer. Without strong bodies and extraordinary speed, Modric contributed just five goals and eight assists in 40 games for Tottenham in his first season. After joining Real Madrid, he was ridiculed by fans as "La Liga's biggest parallel goods".
But over time, it became clear that this skinny player could always step up and save the team in a pinch. With his flowing style, excellent dribbling and wide vision, "Mr. Key" Modric helped Real Madrid achieve an incredible third consecutive Champions League title. Like the gorgeous opera melody composed by Mozart, the title of "The Magic Flute" was slowly called.
2018 is a year of great significance for The Magic Flute. This year, wearing the number 10 shirt and wearing the captain's armband, he led the Plaid Army back to the World Cup after 8 years, defeated Argentina, eliminated the host, all the way to the World Cup final, and won the runner-up in history, allowing the world to see the football legend of a country with a population of just over 4 million.
That year, the 33-year-old Modric ran 63 kilometers on Russia's green field, becoming the most World Cup of the year. His eye-catching performance also helped him successfully lift the Ballon d'Or, breaking the decade-long monopoly of Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi. On the day of receiving the award, Modric's idol Boban burst into tears in the audience, which was the inheritance of two generations of Croatian No. 10, which everyone thought was the best end.
0 goals in 7 games still moves the world
However, four years on, former teammates have retired, but from Russia to Qatar, the 37-year-old has stepped on the World Cup for the fourth time. The group stage broke through thrillingly, eliminating Japan and Brazil in two consecutive penalty shootouts, talking to Messi in the semifinals, defeating the strongest dark horse Morocco in the third place game, and the Croatian team, which was not favored, "escaped death" again and again. Although he did not score one goal, the magic flute, which played 7 games, has become an undisputed "ageless legend".
Fame in White Hart Lane, shining at the Bernabeu, winning the Champions League four times, winning the Golden Ball, winning a silver and a bronze in the World Cup in 16 years, the Croatian Rhapsody played by the "Magic Flute" is wonderful enough. Although the "last dance" is not so complete, it is as CCTV commentator said when the final whistle sounded: "When the golden generation slowly enters dusk, please don't forget that they took us to see the stars." ”
We like the "magic flute", not because of the heavy medal hanging around his neck, but because of the tenacity and indomitability bred by the turbulent war life; Poverty mixed with chaos, struggle and ridicule, did not stop his love of football and his dedication to his dreams. Because such Modric will inspire generations of young people to continue to pursue their dreams just as Boban inspired him.
(Image source: Xinhua News Agency, FIFA)