“39 years of magic, and what we still have left” - Real Madrid hero Sergio Ramos sends birthday message to Luka Modric
Real Madrid legend Sergio Ramos gave a glowing tribute to his former teammate, Luka Modric, on his birthday. The midfielder turned 39 on Monday, September 9, and is still going strong with the Merengues and the Croatia national team.
Sergio Ramos and Luka Modric played together for nine seasons between 2012 and 2021 and were the mainstays in one of Real Madrid's most successful periods. Together, the duo won two league titles and four Champions League trophies as the club re-established itself as the biggest force in European football.
Ramos reminisced about their time together with the Spanish giants and gave a glowing tribute to his former teammate for his contribution to the club and national side.
Sharing a story on his Instagram account, Ramos said:
"Lukita, congratulations, brother. 39 years of magic, and what we still have left... Congratulations also for the 180 games with your nation. Always on my team. I love you." [Translated]
The 38-year-old defender joined Real Madrid as a 19-year-old in 2005 from Sevilla. He left in 2021 after a hugely successful period where the club completed La Decima - becoming European champions for the 10th time.
Ramos joined Lionel Messi at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in 2021 and won two league titles. Last summer, he returned to Spain with his boyhood club, Sevilla.
"I have affection for Luka Modric" - Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti
Modric, now 39, is entering his 13th season with Real Madrid. Since last season, he has often found himself on the bench as manager Carlo Ancelotti prepares for the Croatian's eventual departure.
The midfielder started all four La Liga matches this season on the bench. However, according to Ancelotti, Modric still has an important role to play in Los Blancos' success.
In a press conference earlier this year, Ancelotti spoke about his admiration for the Croatian and the importance of "quality over quantity" regarding the minutes he gets on the field.
"His [Luka Modric's] behaviour and how he trains is perfect. I have affection for him," Ancelotti said. "Staying to make an impact off the bench, I don’t know. It’s difficult to understand that the quality of the minutes is more important than the quantity.”
Modric has made 539 appearances for Real Madrid and is the most decorated player in the club's history. He won the Ballon d'Or in 2018 while playing for the Spanish giants, where he has won 27 trophies, including six Champions League and four La Liga titles.