For avid football fans and followers of the Spanish La Liga, Luka Modric requires no introduction. For those who are unfamiliar with the Croatian midfielder, his five Champion's League medals and Ballon d'Or victory over Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in 2018 should speak volumes.
Modric enters the World Cup in Qatar at the ripe old age (for a footballer) of 37. Some may argue that this means he is past his best, but to them I would say that age is just a number for the Magician of Real Madrid.
What is it that makes Modric so special? When looking at him, one could be forgiven for thinking that he is not a professional athlete at all. He is not very tall, there are no bulging muscles, and he does not run very fast either. What does he do, and how does he do it?
Modric is a playmaker – he pulls the strings of the team. He does this not with pace and power, but with finesse, subtlety, and speed of thought.
There is something hypnotic about watching the Croatian legend play. While others alternate between charging at full tilt and holding position, Modric is a study in perpetual motion. He does not run so much as he jogs slowly and constantly.
This type of player is a nightmare for modern defenders, who are all tall, strong, fast, and more than willing to get into a direct, physical battle. There is nothing direct about Luka Modric. When a defender tries to get close to him, he simply saunters away and the defender is left with a dilemma: Follow Modric and leave a gaping hole for the striker to charge into, or give the unassuming little man a bit of space?
When defenders invariably choose the latter, Modric truly shines. Because if you give Modric space then he will get the ball and pass it, and a Modric pass is as close as you can get to a guaranteed goal in professional football.
In addition to his constant movement, Modric has a curious habit of glancing backwards every few seconds. On his YouTube Channel “Vibe with Five,” Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand speaks of how Chelsea's Frank Lampard had a similar habit.
“He was taking pictures,” Rio said. Lampard would build a mental map of where every player on the pitch was, so he knew where to play the pass before the ball had even arrived at his feet. Modric is the same, always thinking one step ahead of the others on the field, ghosting into open positions and dictating the play at a pace that suits him, and not his opponents.
So, What is it that makes Modric special? The answer is that when others play football, he plays 5D space chess.