Croatian midfielder Luka Modric has signed a one-year contract extension with Real Madrid, which will keep him at the Bernabeu until 2025, the LaLiga club announced on Wednesday.
The 38-year-old Ballon d’Or winner in 2018 won his sixth Champions League trophy and fourth La Liga victory with Real Madrid last season.
Modric’s last contract with the Spanish giants expired at the conclusion of the 2023-24 season, but the Croatian assured fans that he would return the next season, when Real celebrated their Champions League victory, extending their record to 15 European Cups.
No player has won more titles with Real Madrid than Modric, who has lifted 26 trophies since he joined the Spanish giants in 2012.
The veteran player was widely expected to retire, especially after his long-time midfield partner Toni Kroos, 34, announced his retirement at the end of the season.
Modric also had no plans to hang up his boots on the international stage despite Croatia’s early exit from the recently concluded European Championship, where they were eliminated after the group stage.
“I’d like to keep playing forever but there probably will come a time when I must hang up my boots. I’ll keep playing on, but I don’t know for how much longer,” said Modric, who has 178 caps for Croatia.