Can Luka Modrić take his nation one step further in Qatar 2022 ?

The 2022 FIFA World Cup is just around the corner, and all eyes are on Qatar as the first Arabic nation to host the tournament. But for Croatia, the real story lies with their captain, Luka Modrić. Can the veteran midfielder lead his side to glory in Qatar? Modrić has been a mainstay in the Croatian national team for over a decade now, and he played an integral role in their surprise run to the 2018 World Cup final. Now, at 33 years old, he will be looking to add a World Cup title to his already-impressive resume. In this blog post, we will take a look at Modrić’s career thus far and see if he can lead Croatia to glory in Qatar.

Who is Luka Modrić?

Luka Modrić is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Spanish club Real Madrid and captains the Croatia national team. He is widely considered to be one of the best players in the world, and has been nominated for the Ballon d'Or four times, winning once in 2018.

Born in Zadar, Modrić began his career at local club Zadar before moving to Dinamo Zagreb in 2002. He made his senior debut for Dinamo in 2005 and went on to make over 170 appearances for the club, winning six trophies, including three consecutive Croatian First League titles. In 2008, he moved to English side Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of £16.5 million. During his time at Spurs, Modrić established himself as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League and was voted into the PFA Team of the Year on two occasions.

In 2012, he joined Real Madrid for a then-world record fee for a midfielder of €35 million. Since joining Madrid, he has won 19 major honours, including four UEFA Champions League titles and La Liga twice. With Madrid, he has also reached three FIFA Club World Cup finals, winning both in 2014 and 2016; he was named man of the match in both finals. At international level, Modrić captained Croatia to their second FIFA World Cup final appearance in 2018; he was awarded the Golden Ball as the best player of tournament.

Luka Modrić's career thus far

Luka Modrić is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Spanish club Real Madrid and the Croatia national team. He is widely considered to be one of the best midfielders in the world.

Modrić began his career at Dinamo Zagreb, where he made his senior debut in 2003. He moved to Tottenham Hotspur in 2008 for a fee of £16.5 million, becoming the most expensive Croatian footballer at the time. After four seasons with Tottenham, during which he established himself as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, Modrić joined Real Madrid for a then-world record fee for a midfielder of £30 million. In Madrid, he has won nineteen major honours, including La Liga titles in 2016–17 and 2017–18, two UEFA Champions League titles (in 2013–14 and 2015–16), and was voted into both FIFPro World XI teams for 2018 and 2019.

At international level, Modrić captained Croatia to their first FIFA World Cup final in 2018, where they were defeated by France. He was awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player, becoming only the second Croatian player to receive the honour after Davor Šuker at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

What will Luka Modrić bring to Qatar 2022?

Many were surprised when Croatia captain Luka Modrić was left off of FIFA’s The Best Men’s Player shortlist for 2018, but the omission only seemed to motivate the diminutive playmaker. The Real Madrid star led his country to the World Cup Final in Russia, where they narrowly lost to France.

Now, at 32 years of age, Modrić is showing no signs of slowing down. He remains one of the best midfielders in the world and will be a key player for Croatia at Qatar 2022.

Modrić is a world-class playmaker who excels at both creating and scoring goals. He has an excellent first touch and is very comfortable in possession. His vision and passing range are top-notch, making him a dangerous weapon in any attack.

While he is not the biggest or strongest player on the pitch, Modrić more than makes up for it with his intelligence and technique. He is very good at finding space and exploiting gaps in opposing defenses.

Modrić is also a tireless worker off the ball, frequently tracking back to help out his defenders. His work ethic and leadership have been crucial for Croatia over the years, and they will need him at his best if they are to make a deep run at Qatar 2022.

Can Luka Modrić take his nation one step further in Qatar 2022?

With Qatar set to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022, all eyes will be on the tiny nation. One player who will be under immense pressure to perform is Luka Modrić. The Real Madrid star is the captain of Croatia and will be leading his countrymen into battle in what will be their first ever World Cup appearance.

So, can Modrić take Croatia one step further in Qatar 2022?

It’s certainly a possibility. Modrić is a world-class talent and has proven himself time and time again on the biggest stage. He was instrumental in Croatia’s run to the 2018 World Cup final, where they ultimately lost to France.

On an individual level, there is no doubt that Modrić is more than capable of putting in a stellar performance at the upcoming World Cup. However, it remains to be seen whether or not he can lead Croatia to glory. The Croats have a relatively young and inexperienced squad, so it will be up to Modrić to guide them through the tournament.

If anyone can do it, it’s Luka Modrić. He has all the qualities necessary to be a successful captain and he will no doubt give everything for his country in Qatar 2022.

Conclusion

With Luka Modrić at the helm, there's no telling how far Croatia can go in Qatar 2022. The talented midfielder has proven time and time again that he has what it takes to win, and with a little help from his teammates, there's no reason why Croatia couldn't make a deep run in the tournament. If you're rooting for an underdog nation in Qatar 2022, make sure to keep an eye on Croatia.