The Maestro Returns: Modrić Secures Draw for Milan
The Croatian captain played half an hour in the friendly derby against Inter in Perth, with his entrance met by ovations and Croatian flags in the stands.
The Croatian captain played half an hour in the friendly derby against Inter in Perth, with his entrance met by ovations and Croatian flags in the stands.
Luka Modrić returned to the pitch in a Milan shirt and, in just 30 minutes of play, showed why he remains indispensable. In the friendly derby against city rivals Inter, played on August 5, 2026, in Perth, Australia, the Croatian captain came on in the 62nd minute and, with a moment of brilliance, secured the equalizer for the Rossoneri, making it 1-1.
Milan's new coach, Portuguese tactician Ruben Amorim, brought Modrić on for Youssouf Fofana. As soon as he stepped onto the pitch, thunderous applause erupted from the stands, and cameras captured several Croatian flags waving among the crowd. Modrić immediately took the captain's armband, shouldering responsibility while his team trailed 1-0.
Inter took the lead in the 52nd minute with a goal from Federico Dimarco, and that score remained on the board until Modrić's arrival. With the Croatian midfielder on the pitch, Milan's play gained composure and creativity, which was especially evident in the closing stages of the match.
The decisive moment came in the 84th minute. Modrić, from the edge of the box, played a brilliant ball through to Christopher Nkunku, who had a clear sight of goal. In an attempt to stop him, Matteo Darmian brought him down, and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. Nkunku stepped up and calmly converted the penalty to make it 1-1.
Although he spent just 30 minutes on the pitch, Modrić's numbers-29 accurate passes out of 33 attempts-clearly illustrate his precision. He delivered five long balls, four of which were accurate, and made four passes into the final third. Defensively, he intercepted two opposition passes and won two balls, showcasing a complete performance.
This was Modrić's first appearance for Milan after extending his contract with the Italian giants for another season this summer. In the first minutes after his return, he made it abundantly clear how vital he will be to Amorim's squad in the upcoming season.
