Luka Modric, the goal that rewrote Milan and Serie A history

The goal he scored against Bologna carries with it a value that goes far beyond the scoreboard. In fact, with that goal, Luka Modric has written a new page in the history of Italian soccer: at the age of 40, the Croatian midfielder has become the oldest midfielder ever to score in Serie A. A prestigious milestone that confirms, once again, the extraordinary longevity and class of the 2018 Ballon d’Or, who arrived at AC Milan after enchanting for more than a decade with the Real Madrid jersey.

The previous record belonged to another Rossoneri legend, Nils Liedholm, who in the derby against Inter on March 26, 1961, at 38 years and 169 days, had set a record that remained unbeaten for more than sixty years. Modrić, with his signature in the San Siro challenge, thus touched up history, undermining the Swede and handing Milan fans another gem to remember.

This is not only a role record, however: with this goal, the Croatian also enters the absolute elite of the “senators” of the Italian league. In fact, Modric is the fifth oldest player to have found the way to the net in Serie A, behind only such monuments as Zlatan Ibrahimović, Alessandro Costacurta, Silvio Piola and Francesco Totti. Names that alone tell the greatness of this feat.

His contribution does not end in numbers: his experience, vision of the game and ability to ignite the maneuver make Modric an indispensable reference point in Pioli’s chessboard, but above all an example of professionalism and dedication for his younger teammates. Scoring at 40, in a league that remains among the most tactically and physically demanding, is a sign of how much energy, talent and motivation the Croatian still has to expend.

The goal against Bologna, then, is not just a statistical curiosity, but tangible proof that Luka Modric continues to be an absolute protagonist of great soccer, capable of combining the freshness of the technical gesture with the solidity of a timeless career.