Barcelona legend sends heartfelt message to his long-time rival as the Croatian maestro prepares to leave Madrid—read the full story of respect, rivalry, and legacy.
Andrés Iniesta, one of the greatest midfielders in football history, has publicly paid tribute to his former rival Luka Modrić as the Real Madrid icon prepares to bid farewell to the Santiago Bernabéu this summer. The two shared the pitch in some of the fiercest El Clásico battles and international contests, facing each other 16 times in total.
In an emotional Instagram message, Iniesta reflected on their storied encounters and wished Modrić well:
“We have had some beautiful duels… Good luck in the next step, Luka Modrić!”
Modrić, who joined Real Madrid in 2012 from Tottenham for £30 million, leaves behind a monumental legacy—591 appearances, 43 goals, 95 assists, and 28 trophies, including the 2018 Ballon d’Or.
Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid’s incoming manager and Modrić’s former teammate, also voiced deep admiration:
“I can’t be objective with Luka… his farewell… I was so proud. He is a legend.”
Though Modrić’s contract ends on June 30, Madrid could extend it by a month, allowing him to feature in the FIFA Club World Cup. A final swansong may yet await the Croatian legend before his curtain falls.
This marks the end of an era—where titans like Iniesta and Modrić defined football’s golden
midfield age.
