AC Milan midfielder Luka Modric has expressed frustration over the constant discussion surrounding his age, insisting that his performances on the pitch should matter more than the number on his birth certificate.
Modric, who is approaching his 41st birthday, said the conversation about his age has followed him for several years.
In an interview, the Croatian midfielder revealed that the issue became common after the 2018 World Cup, when he was 33.
“It’s not that it bothers me or makes me angry, but it’s tiring to hear,” Modric said.
“This discourse began in 2019, after the World Cup, when I was 33 years old.”
The veteran midfielder argued that age should not determine whether a footballer is capable of competing at the highest level.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re 18, 30, 40 or 50. It doesn’t matter. If you demonstrate on the field, day after day, that you can compete, I think that’s what should matter,” he said.
Modric has continued to prove his critics wrong since turning 33. After the 2018 World Cup, he helped Real Madrid win two more Champions League titles, while also guiding Croatia to a third-place finish at the 2022 World Cup and a Nations League final.
The midfielder left Real Madrid in 2025 after 13 highly successful seasons and joined AC Milan.
He has since extended his stay with the Italian club for another season and remains an important part of the squad.
Modric, who won the Ballon d’Or in 2018, says his motivation to continue playing comes from his love for football and his desire to remain competitive.
“Age is just a number to me,” he said, adding that he believes players should be judged by what they can still contribute rather than their age.
The Croatian legend has also admitted that retirement is getting closer, but said his body will ultimately tell him when it is time to stop playing.
