Luka Modric has officially departed "Real Madrid" at age 39, ending an era that saw the Croatian midfielder contribute to 28 trophies during his illustrious tenure with the Spanish giants. His exit creates a significant void not just in the squad's midfield, but also marks the first time in nearly 25 years that the club will be without a Ballon d'Or winner among its ranks.
"I gave everything for this badge and these colors," Modric reportedly told teammates during an emotional farewell at the club's training facilities.
The Croatian maestro claimed football's most prestigious individual honor in 2018, the same year he led his national team to the World Cup final and helped "Real Madrid" secure their 13th Champions League trophy. This remarkable achievement broke the decade-long Ballon d'Or duopoly of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Interestingly, Modric's departure interrupts what has been an almost unbroken chain of Ballon d'Or winners at the Bernabéu since the turn of the millennium. This golden period began when Luis Figo joined in 2000, shortly before receiving the prestigious award. He was followed by Zinedine Zidane in 2001, who had won the honor in 1998 with Juventus.
Ronaldo Nazário came next, having claimed the prize in 1997 before adding another golden ball to his collection while representing the Spanish capital club. The 2004-05 season saw a remarkable collection of talent, with four Ballon d'Or winners—Figo, Zidane, Ronaldo, and Michael Owen—sharing the same dressing room.
After brief periods with just one winner in the squad, the club's Ballon d'Or tradition reached new heights during the Cristiano Ronaldo era. The Portuguese superstar claimed the award four times (2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017) while leading "Real Madrid" to four Champions League trophies.
When Cristiano departed in 2018, it seemed the streak might end. But just months later, Modric stepped up to claim the prize, maintaining the legacy. Karim Benzema later added his name to the illustrious list in 2022, following a sensational 44-goal season that propelled the club to its 14th Champions League title.
Do "Real Madrid" have any potential Ballon d'Or winners in their current squad? Vinicius Junior came close in the most recent edition, with teammates Jude Bellingham, Dani Carvajal, and new signing Kylian Mbappé also featuring prominently in the voting. Could Manchester City's Rodri, the current holder who has reportedly caught Madrid's attention, be the next Ballon d'Or winner to don the famous white shirt?
As one chapter closes with Modric's departure, the question remains: how long will "Real Madrid" go without football's most coveted individual prize in their dressing room?
