Carlo Ancelotti described Luka Modric as a reward for football after the 39-year-old midfielder scored a spectacular goal in Real Madrid's 2-0 win over Girona on Sunday, February 23, 2025.
Modric opened the scoring in the 41st minute at the Santiago Bernabeu, before Vinicius Junior added a second goal at the end of the game.
Real Madrid are now offset by Barcelona's points at the top of the La Liga standings with both packing 54 points.
The Croatian international is no longer Los Blancos' regular core player, having only appeared as a starting player nine times in the league this season and 15 times as a substitute. However, he remains an important figure in the dressing room.
"Modric is a gift for football. He has to keep playing as long as he wants. Whatever he does, he does well."
"Football, and we at Real Madrid, are lucky to have him as a legend. He is a gift, with his quality and professionalism," Ancelotti told a news conference after the match.
SEE ALSO:
Modric - whose contract expires this summer - is the oldest player to ever play for Real Madrid. He will be 40 in September 2025.
Ancelotti compared it to his legendary AC Milan player, Paolo Maldini, who won the 2007 Champions League at the age of 38, before retiring two years later.
"I have other players, Maldini, you can compare the two. They are fantastic role models."
"It's no coincidence that they reach the age of 40. Gen is a factor, but the most important thing is professionalism, seriousness, attitude," said Ancelotti.
Meanwhile, Modrid after the match said his goal that night was special. Moreover, this season could be his last at the Bernabeu.
"I don't know if it's one of my most spectacular (gol), but it's good."
"It's always special to score goals at the Bernabeu. The last matches show that we are in a good moment."
"We have to keep going. I think we can still grow as a team," Modric told Real Madrid TV.
Apart from that, Real Madrid will face Real Sociedad on Thursday, February 27, 2025, in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals.
After that, they will travel to Real Betis headquarters in La Liga, before facing Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League last 16.
Ancelotti said defender David Alaba had the opportunity to start the games after playing 70 minutes against Girona, in his first start in more than a year.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
