No rest for age-defying Modric for Milan or Croatia in 2025-26

Luka Modric continues to defy his years, and is still a nailed-on starter for club and county at the age of 40 with just nine minutes of rest over his last three matches for Milan and Croatia. 

Modric, who joined Milan as a free agent after the end of his 13 years with Real Madrid earlier this summer, has played as a starter in all six of Milan’s Serie A matches so far this term. 

He was given a 16-minute rest at the end of his Serie A debut, an eventual 2-1 defeat against underdogs Cremonese, and has only been brought off once since then, for nine minutes at the end of a 3-0 win over Udinese. 

The former Ballon d’Or winner also played the full 90 minutes for his nation as Croatia settled for a 0-0 draw against Czechia in World Cup qualifying on Thursday evening. 

The 40-year-old midfielder has been afforded some rest in the Coppa Italia, but between Serie A and national team commitments, he has only missed 23 minutes from seven matches this term. 

Only centre-back Matteo Gabbia has played more minutes in Serie A for Milan than Modric so far this season. The defender has played every minute of the league campaign thus far. 

Modric has even played more minutes in Serie A than first-choice goalkeeper Mike Maignan, who was brought off injured against Bologna in September and missed the following match against Udinese.