Luka Modric breaks Serie A's all-time record

Luka Modric made a remarkable mark by becoming the oldest player to debut in Serie A at the age of 39, setting a record in his first match with AC Milan.

It has been many months since Luka Modric left. The farewell event took place, and his debut at San Siro is done, yet many Real Madrid fans surely still find it hard to move on.

But what was inevitable has happened. The Croatian midfielder now wears the red and black jersey, and in his very first Serie A appearance, he set a historic record. During his debut against Cremonese in the early hours of August 24 (Vietnam time), Modric became the oldest player to debut in the league at 39 years and 11 months, surpassing the previous record held by goalkeeper Maurizio Pugliesi (Empoli), who debuted in 2016 at 39 years and 5 months.

The 2018 Ballon d'Or winner outshone young newcomer Samuele Ricci, earning a starting spot thanks to the trust of coach Massimiliano Allegri. The debut, cheered on by 75,000 fans in the stadium, not only confirmed Modric’s incredible longevity but also highlighted Milan’s great ambitions for the 2025/26 season.

In 74 minutes on the field, Luka Modric showed experience and class wearing the AC Milan jersey. According to Sofascore statistics, the veteran Croatian earned a rating of 7.5, proving his influence on the overall play.

Modric touched the ball 89 times, becoming the central orchestrator of the midfield. He made 76 passes, with 69 successful (91% accuracy), demonstrating his precision and ability to manage the game's tempo. Beyond ball retention, Modric created 3 key passes, opening up chances for his teammates.

In wing attacks, the 39-year-old midfielder delivered 3 crosses, 2 of which were accurate, and launched 7 long passes, 6 of them on target. Although he didn’t score or assist, his expected goals (xG) of 0.06 and expected assists (xA) of 0.14 indicate he still exerted significant pressure.

Despite Modric’s impressive display, AC Milan suffered a 1-2 defeat to Cremonese.

In the next match, Luka Modric and his teammates will face Lecce in the second round of Serie A, scheduled for 1:45 AM on August 30 (Vietnam time).

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