Rakitic praises Milan star Modric: 'Age is just a number for him'
Quick summary
Ivan Rakitic publicly praised AC Milan midfielder Luka Modric, highlighting that the Croatian veteran continues to perform at an elite level regardless of his age.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceFormer Barcelona and Croatia midfielder Ivan Rakitić has praised long-time international teammate Luka Modrić following the AC Milan star’s 41st birthday, hailing the veteran’s extraordinary professionalism and enduring passion for the sport.
Modrić, who committed to continuing his career with both Milan and the Croatian national team over the summer, featured prominently in the Rossoneri’s 1-1 draw against Juventus last Sunday.
Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, via MilanNews24 , Rakitić expressed his admiration for how his former midfield partner maintains elite performance levels well into his fifth decade.
TURIN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 06: Luka Modric of Milan runs with the ball under pressure from Nicolas Gonzalez of Juventus during the Serie A match between Juventus and AC Milan at Allianz Stadium on September 06, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images) Rakitic: ‘For Modric, age is simply a number’ “You just have to watch him play to understand that he is still in love with football: on the pitch, he is happy and his eyes shine like a child’s,” Rakitić said. “For him, age is simply a number because he is an exceptional professional and, living the life of a super-athlete, he recovers quickly.
“Maybe not like a 22-year-old, but he takes care of every single detail to perfection: from nutrition to rest, post-match recovery to injury prevention. If you leave nothing to chance, it’s easier to last longer. I don’t know when someone with his incredible qualities will be born again. I watched Juventus vs. Milan on Sunday and he confirmed that he is an important player for the team, an absolute leader, in fact.”
Addressing Modrić’s decision to prolong his international career, Rakitić urged the global football community to enjoy the maestro while he is still on the pitch.
“Is he continuing his national team career? It’s great news for Croatia,” Rakitić added. “Now, though, let’s stop asking him when he intends to retire: let’s just focus on enjoying him. Not just Milan and Croatia fans, but everyone who loves football. Someone like Modrić is a national treasure for this sport, a true magician of the ball.”
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What happened
Former Barcelona and Sevilla midfielder Ivan Rakitic has spoken admiringly about his longtime Croatia teammate Luka Modric, now at AC Milan. Rakitic emphasized that Modric defies conventional expectations about aging in football, calling age 'just a number' for the 39-year-old playmaker. The comments come as Modric continues to feature prominently for Milan following his high-profile move from Real Madrid. The exchange underscores the enduring respect between two of Croatia's most decorated midfielders of the modern era.
Chance analysis
Modric's seamless transition to Serie A has been one of the feel-good stories of the season, and praise from a compatriot like Rakitic reinforces the sense that Milan secured a player who still operates at the highest level. For Milan supporters, the endorsement adds further validation of the club's marquee summer signing and signals that Modric's influence in midfield remains undiminished. It also keeps the spotlight on Milan's broader project of blending experienced stars with emerging talent.
No measurable change to team or player outlook; reinforces positive sentiment around Modric's role at Milan.