Luka Modric has extended his contract with Real Madrid until 2025 (official announcement coming in the next few days) and will embark on his 13th season in the Spanish capital. Following Nacho's departure, the Croatian will become the team captain.

Spanish media reported that Modric agreed to a 50% salary reduction for the new contract and accepted a rotation player role. Luka has already won all possible trophies with Madrid and proved everything to everyone, but even now, almost 39 years old, he has a hunger for new victories and achievements.

In the new season, which might be Modric's last in his career (or are we rushing again?), the player will face several ambitious challenges. Let's take a look at them.

Modric will become the oldest player in Real Madrid's history

Currently, the record belongs to the legendary Ferenc Puskas, who took the field for Real Madrid on May 8, 1966, at the age of 39 years and 36 days. Modric will turn 39 in September, so the Croatian will definitely surpass the great Hungarian and top the ranking. Besides Puskas and Modric, the top five oldest players in Real Madrid's history include goalkeepers Paco Buyo (last match at 38 years and 63 days) and Jerzy Dudek (38 years and 59 days), as well as Alfredo Di Stefano (37 years and 328 days).

Luka can single-handedly top the list of the most titled Real Madrid players

Currently, Modric shares the first place with Nacho – both have 26 trophies with Madrid. It's hard to imagine a scenario where Luka doesn't become the sole leader of the list: in the 2024/25 season, Real Madrid will participate in seven different tournaments. The first chance for the Croatian to take the outright lead will be on August 14, in the UEFA Super Cup match against Atalanta. However, it should be noted that Modric is unlikely to hold the record for long – Dani Carvajal is 32 years old and has won just one trophy less than Luka.

Modric has a chance to enter the top 10 Real Madrid players by the number of matches

Only one foreign player in the club's history has managed to break into the top 10 players by the number of matches for Real Madrid – Karim Benzema. The Frenchman ranks fifth on the list with 648 matches, trailing only Ramos (671), Sanchis (710), Casillas (725), and Raul (741). Modric can become the second foreigner to enter the top 10. He currently has 534 matches and ranks 14th in the historical ranking. To reach the top 10, he needs 27 more games – Pirri and Michel share the tenth spot with 561 matches. Real Madrid will play at least 50 games next season, so Modric has an excellent chance not only to break into the top 10 but also to displace Jose Antonio Camacho, who has 577 matches, from ninth place.

The seventh Champions League – the main motivation

It's insane, but we are indeed talking about this: Luka Modric has a chance to win his seventh (!) Champions League in his career. If Real Madrid reaches the Munich final in 2025 and wins, Modric and Carvajal will be the only players in football history to win the Champions League seven times. Real Madrid has spoiled us with great victories over the last decade so much that we probably do not fully realize the scale of the possible achievement. In 1966, Paco Gento won his sixth European Champions Cup, and only after 58 years did Modric, Kroos, Nacho, and Carvajal catch up with him. Now Luka and Dani have the opportunity to set a new benchmark.