April 30, 2022 - Real Madrid has become the Spanish champion for the 35th time, clinching the LaLiga title today against Espanyol.

A year ago, Real Madrid was left without a title in the last round, but this season looked a bit different. 

In the 34th round of LaLiga, Real Madrid beat Espanyol (4-0) at home and thus, for the 35th time in history, secured the Spanish title. Second-placed Sevilla is 17 points behind and Barcelona is -18 with a game less. Even if they celebrate on Sunday, they cannot theoretically overthrow Madrid.

Rodrygo scored two goals for 2-0 Madrid at halftime, followed by Asensio and Benzema goals in the 55th and 81st minutes for the final 4-0. 

On Wednesday, Real Madrid and Manchester City will play in the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals, meaning Ancelotti didn't want to exhaust his most important players. Luka Modric played until the 60th minute.

This title is special for Real in many ways. Brazilian footballer Marcelo has gone down in history as the most trophy-winning footballer in the club’s history with 24 trophies, and nothing could have passed without Don Carlo getting another column in the history books. He became the first coach in history to win a championship in all five leagues! He succeeded with Milan, Chelsea, PSG, Bayern, and now Real Madrid.

Croatian maestro Luka Modrić will remember this as the day he won his 19th trophy with Real Madrid, making him the fifth most trophy-winning player in the club's history.

Luka made history with Real Madrid and won four Champions Leagues, three of them in a row. This is Luka's third La Liga title, while he has also won one Cup, four Club World Cups, three Uefa Super Cups, and four Spanish Super Cups. 

Modrić came to Madrid in 2012, and while he had a rough start, he became one of the best ever to wear the Royal jersey.

Modrić has played 431 games and scored 31 goals with 70 assists so far. This season, he's played a total of 38 games - and that's all at 36. 

Source: 24Sata

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October 31, 2021 - The Real Madrid captain armband was worn by a Croatian footballer for the first time in history on Saturday, and it's no surprise that Croatia captain Luka Modrić had the honor. 

In the Real Madrid victory against Elche (2:1), Luka Modić had the honor of wearing the captain's armband of one of the biggest clubs in the world. The Croatia captain also wore it for the first time in his career, reports Index.hr.

Real returned to the top of the table with their victory in this match, and the hero was Vinicius Junior, who scored both goals. He scored first in the 22nd minute, after an assist by Diaz, and then shook the net after Modrić's assist in the 73rd minute.

The home side played with a man down from the 63rd minute after Guti received a second yellow card but again scored in the 86th minute. The shooter was Milla, but Elche couldn't do more than that.

Modrić left the pitch in the 84th minute when Camavinga replaced him. The Croatian midfielder was wearing the captain's armband of the great Real at that moment, taking it in the 65th minute when Marcelo was subbed off, and then handed it over to Carvajal when he walked off. 

So far, six Croats have played for Real Madrid. Apart from Modrić, Mateo Kovačić, Robert Prosinečki, Robert Jarni, Igor Jovićević and Davor Šuker played for the royal club.

Modrić has played 401 games for Real and is currently 20th on the list of players with the most appearances for the Madrid team, with whom he was twice champion of Spain and four times champion of Europe.

"Modrić just keeps on going with Real Madrid. The Croatian played his 400th Real Madrid game in the Clasico victory at Camp Nou. The midfielder has racked up 261 wins and scored 28 goals during that time. He has won everything in his 10 seasons with the team: 4 Champions League titles, 4 Club World Cups, 3 European Super Cups, 2 LaLiga titles, 1 Copa del Rey and 3 Spanish Super Cups.
 
Modrić's games for Real Madrid have come in six competitions: 272 in LaLiga, 89 in the Champions League, 22 in the Copa del Rey, 7 in the Spanish Super Cup, 6 in the Club World Cup and 4 in the European Super Cup. His highest number of appearances in one campaign was in the 2012/13 season, with 53," wrote Real Madrid on its website last week. 

"It's incredible, I'm very proud to have played 400 games for Real Madrid. I'm very happy and very proud. I hope to keep playing more games and to see how many more games I can play," said Modrić on his achievement. 

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July 17, 2020 - Croatia national team captain and Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric played an essential role in the victory that confirmed the new champion of Spain.

Real Madrid mathematically confirmed the Spanish title with a 2-1 victory against Villarreal on Thursday night.

Karim Benzema scored both of Madrid's goals in the match, and Luka Modric assisted the first. Iborra scored for Villarreal.

Real took the lead in the 29th minute. Casemiro found Modric, who pushed the ball into the penalty area with a timely lay off for Benzema, who scored for the 1-0 lead.

Real increased their lead in the 77th minute thanks to a penalty won by Sergio Ramos. Real's captain stepped up to the penalty spot and cunningly played Benzema, who scored, though his goal was disallowed as he entered the penalty area before Ramos touched the ball.

A repeated attempt was made by Benzema, who hit accurately for 2-0.

Villarreal reduced Madrid's lead in the 83rd minute, and could have scored again had Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois not saved Real on several occasions.

Marco Asensio scored for 3-1 in added time, though the goal was called back due to handball.

??? ¡La foto de los CAMPEONES de @LaLiga 2019/20!#34Ligas | #RealFootball pic.twitter.com/k0Ss0xk6Kw

— Real Madrid C.F.⚽ (@realmadrid) July 16, 2020

One round before the end, the Royal Club has an unattainable seven-point advantage over Barcelona, who lost at home to Osasuna (1-2).

Osasuna took the lead through Arnaiz in the 15th minute, Messi equalized in the 62nd minute, and Roberto Torres shocked Barcelona in added time and resolved all doubts about the new champion.

This is Real Madrid's 34th Spanish title. Real won their last title in 2017, also under the leadership of Zinedine Zidane. The Madrid club came to the new title thanks to a fantastic defense that received 23 goals in 37 league games and with only three defeats.

One of the key players of Blancos was again Luka Modric, who led the team with his brilliant play, especially after the championship resumed after the break caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Since the continuation of La Liga on June 14, Real have recorded nine victories, thus leading ahead of Barcelona. Eibar, Valencia, Real Sociedad, Mallorca, Espanyol, Getafe, Athletic Bilbao, Alaves, Granada and Villarreal. 

This is Luka's second Spanish championship title since joining Real Madrid in 2012. Luka Modric and this Real Madrid generation are now the second most celebrated group of players in the club's 118-year history.

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April 14, 2020 - Croatia representative and Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has been training in the safety of his home because of the coronavirus pandemic. The famous footballer opened up to Spanish media about his uncertain future at the Catalan club. 

T.portal reports that, like many footballers around the world, Ivan Rakitic spends his days inside the four walls of his home until football returns to the currently-quarantined Spain. 

“I am spending this time as we all are, with family, my wife and children. Luckily we have some space in the garden so we can play. We’ve had a little luck and good weather, it's getting a little easier for us,” Rakitic revealed in an interview with RTL on Sunday.

“I have to train as much as I can to be ready because I don't know exactly when we'll be back. I also respect the decision of Bayern and a lot of German clubs who are back and if the situation can allow it, even better. It doesn't look like that for us yet. I think we will be stuck at home for a while, but for the benefit of all of us,” he added.

But in an extensive interview with Mundo Deportivo, in which he received the full cover, Ivan Rakitic spoke about his status at Barcelona, as there has been a lot of speculation about him moving to a new club, from Inter to PSG, Sevilla, and Atletico.

“For two years now, and especially during breaks between seasons and during this forced break because of the coronavirus, I have been writing and talking about my departure from Barcelona. I always responded to this as I will now; playing for Barcelona to me is perfection, the fulfillment of a dream. So I would like to play and enjoy it here until the end of  my contract and help win all the trophies. If that is not possible, we will sit down and arrange my departure. However, I want to work with Barcelona until the end.”

If Rakitic has to leave Barcelona, is Sevilla his priority?

“True, I have a special affection for Seville, but above all for the city, as I have my family there. I always said that it would be great to wear that shirt again, everyone knows that, but it is not only my decision that matters, whether I want it or not. There are many more things. Monchi (the sports director of Sevilla) and everyone in Seville has my phone number, they haven't called me yet, and I recently had a birthday, but even then they didn't remember me,” he said laughing.

Rakitic has always said that Barcelona is the best team in the world. 

“Everyone who knows me knows I always want to win. My goal is always to win and conquer everything. First, in training, then during the games and the trophies and that will never change. I see myself at my best, and I do my best. If I didn't have that desire, I would do things differently, but I feel better than ever and see that I will compete at the highest level for the next three or four years,”

Barcelona offered Rakitic the chance to leave last summer, but now, because of the coronavirus pandemic, such transfers may no longer be feasible. Does Rakitic see himself as a player in other leagues, such as Italy or England, or would he rather stay in Spain?

“I understand the situation, but I'm not a sack of potatoes that could be traded. You can always talk to me, but most importantly: I want to be where I will be loved, respected and needed and where both myself and my family feel good. If it’s going to be in Barcelona, I’ll be thrilled. If not, I'll go where I choose and not where others want. I do not allow this kind of behavior towards me and I have already told them that is the most important thing.” 

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Ahead of Barcelona’s game against Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, coach Ernesto Valverde talked about the possibility of Ivan Rakitić leaving Barcelona, which has circulated throughout international media in recent weeks.

Ivan Rakitić has been flawless in his role as the central midfielder of Barcelona. Coach Ernesto Valverde showers him with so much praise after each game, Barcelona fans joke that Rakitić is Valverde’s cousin. 

El Mundo, Spain’s second largest printed daily newspaper, reports that Luka Modrić admitted to tax evasion and came to an agreement with the Spanish court.

This is something you don't see that often in football...

Croatian footballer and Atletico Madrid defender Šime Vrsaljko received praise for saving his fellow teammates life in the La Liga match last night against La Coruna Deportivo. 

In the 20th round of La Liga, Real Madrid won with a convincing 3:0 score against Real Sociedad at home in Madrid.