Luka Modric has been awarded by Diario AS as the ‘Best midfielder of our time’ in gala of ‘Premios AS 2023’

The captain of the Croatian football team, Luka Modric (38), received an award from the sports newspaper AS in Madrid on Monday for his achievements over the past 10 years, during which he said that he was happy for Real Madrid, but refused to talk about the future

Modric has won 23 trophies since he joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2012.

The host of the ceremony, held in the Teatro Real theater in the center of the city, said in the announcement that “it is difficult to play for ten months, and imagine only ten years” in Real Madrid.

Modric, in a black jacket and white shirt, received a statue in the shape of the letter AS on the podium, during which he thanked the newspaper, all coaches and fans.

“I feel very good, I enjoy every moment, in the best club in the world,” said Modric.

The presenter asked him if he would stay at Real Madrid after his contract expires in six months, after which there was great anticipation in the hall for an answer.

“It’s not the moment to talk about it. I live in the present, I’m focused on what’s next for me now, and we’ll see what happens in the future,” replied Modric.

He himself laughed, as did those present, at such an answer, to which the presenter said that she hopes to play for Real Madrid even after June 30.

“Kraljevski Klub”, with whom Modric won five Champions Leagues, qualified for the round of 16 of that competition with all six victories in the group over Napoli, Braga and Union Berlin.

Modric said that it would be an “incredible” success if they reached the Champions League cup this year as well.

In the round of 16 in February, they will play against Germany’s Leipzig, which the Croatian midfielder called a “difficult opponent”.

“They are good in their league. But before that we have to deal with other things, the championship and the cup,” stated the “ten” of Real Madrid.

The Madrid team, ranked second in the championship, had defender David Alaba seriously injured on Sunday, so now they have seven injured players.

“We had an 𝖆𝖈𝖈𝖎𝖉𝖊𝖓𝖙 with injuries. I wish them all a speedy recovery, especially David, who was injured yesterday. I hope that everyone will recover quickly,” said Modric.

The Croatian national team member was the last to receive the AS award, at a ceremony that lasted for two hours.

For the 17th time, the Madrid-based newspaper has honored individuals and teams for their achievements in 2023, and in their careers in general.

Modric said that it was his pleasure to be among all these successful athletes. A total of 21 prizes were awarded.

Among the awardees is the soccer team of Argentina, which won the World Cup a year ago, after beating Croatia 3-0 in the semi-finals.

Atletico Madrid players – Rodrigo de Paul, Nahuel Molina and Angel Correa – received the statuette on behalf of “Gauč”, noting that they are overjoyed when they remember the moment of winning the title.

Recognition also went to the Spanish national team, which six months ago won the League of Nations with a final victory over Croatia, on penalties.

Modric’s teammate from Real Madrid, the currently injured Dani Carvajal, who took the last penalty in Rotterdam by beating goalkeeper Dominik Livaković’s ‘panenka’, took the podium.

“That shot was unusual, because the opponent didn’t expect it,” Carvajal said. “I feel sorry for Luke who is here and to whom I send a big hug,” he added.

Spain and Croatia will meet again on June 15 at the European Championship in Germany, and coach Luis de la Fuente and captain Alvaro Morata said on Monday that they will try to win the competition.

“I hope that we will continue to win titles. That is our goal,” said Morata, the Atletico forward.

The Real Madrid basketball players, represented by the Croatian national team player Mario Hezonja, also won the award, because they won the Euroleague last season. Their former teammate Felipe Reyes received the statue on behalf of the team, saying that the team entered this season just as well, but that it is a long one, so anything can still happen.

Among the laureates is the Spanish junior handball team, which this year won gold in Croatia at the World Championship. On the podium were the brothers Petar and Đorđe Cikuša, born in Catalonia, who have both Croatian and Serbian citizenship.