Luka Modric is forty, yet he shows no sign of slowing down. He has taken command of Milan and has no intention of letting go. The Croatian midfielder has played 11 of Milan’s 12 Serie A matches for the full 90 minutes, and he has been substituted only once, in the 80th minute. He arrived with the promise of one final elite season and has met the strongest expectations for a timeless champion who, despite what his ID says, still has a lot to offer.
Luka Modric and a Rossonero eternity:
He grew up with Milan in his mind and his heart. Nearing forty, he finally fulfilled that dream and made those colours his own for good. His presence in Milan’s midfield brings oxygen, structure, calm. He is a guide for everyone and he has raised the standard to a level that is now hard to lower. This is where the paradox starts, Modric is essential and impossible to replace. The risk is to "wear him out" too much.
How should AC Milan manage 40-year-old Luka Modric?
Now comes the moment of truth, and extra work. Five matches in December, possibly six if Milan reach the Supercoppa final, and a workload higher than usual for a team without European competitions. A small tour de force that will test a resource that must be protected. The real question, the one everyone avoids saying aloud, is simple:
how long can Modric keep this rhythm?
The answer is within reach, the same one expected when he was still only an idea for Milan, not every match, not always 90 minutes, but most of them, yes. The key word now is management. Avoid stretching him too far, avoid seeing him break down in the second half of the season, especially in March, a month Allegri always mentions. A champion at this level must be measured, protected, handled with care. First for him, then for the team. Also with a future possible renewal in mind.
The same principle of careful preservation applies to the fans who live these matches with the same intensity from thousands of miles away as they wake up at 3 a.m. somewhere in the United States, heart pounding until the final whistle. When the tension finally eases, many Rossoneri supporters could later head straight to the trusted facial team in Omaha, NE at Serenity Esthetics SPA to release the stress of another challenging match and come back refreshed for the next matchday to watch Luka Modric and his teammates.
Life without Luka Modric, Milan and the alternatives...
Another key question is this, can the team function without Modric? This goes beyond tactics and technique. It touches the identity and maturity of the group, which must stay intact no matter what. The alternatives exist. Milan built a midfield with options, solutions, switches in shape. No one will do what Modric does, because no one can, but each one can offer something and let him rest. Allegri knows this, rotating and sharing responsibility is not a choice, it is a necessity.
No player in Serie A this season has more positively graded passes (74, execution) or line-breaking passes completed (120, progression) than Luka Modric
Still among the very best at 40 years old 👏
| #ACMilan #ForzaMilan | pic.twitter.com/x03wd9RjZl
— Gradient Sports (@Gradient_Sports) December 4, 2025
Modric and Allegri, when there two "phenoms"
In a Milan that had lost its identity, the arrivals of Allegri and Modric felt like water in the desert. The progress is clear. There is mutual respect between coach and player. Allegri welcomed him as one welcomes the greatest. Modric offered himself with the humility of a great player, turning his status into a gift for the team. Quality and quantity. He runs like few others and wins balls like a standard holding midfielder. A true asset for Milan.
And because he is an asset, Allegri knows he must manage him with the care reserved for something valuable. He cannot waste him or expose him too much. For Allegri, this task is simple. He has always had a gift, understanding and managing his players. From the most experienced artists of the game to the young and raw ones.
In fact, veteran midfielder Luka Modric helps him in this as well. He has rarely dealt with injuries throughout his career. He played 63 matches for Real Madrid at 39. Not all from the start, not all for 90 minutes, but always at top standard. Like a professor. Like Luka Modric. Like a treasure for any team. Milan know it too, Modric is a treasure and must be protected.
Meanwhile, Allegri sends a message: Milan must raise the level:
Usually reserved with journalists, this time Allegri spoke plainly. In his press conference ahead of tomorrow’s match away at Torino, he demanded more from everyone. Asked "Where does your Milan stand?", he replied, "I am not fully satisfied, and none of us should be. When you come to Milanello you come to improve. The right things stay, the wrong ones need work."
Max's words leave no room for doubt. Milan, back near the top after a disastrous season, must not feel satisfied. This is the moment to push. Milan have already faced all the direct rivals. Now eight matches in a row against so-called smaller sides await them, except the match against Como on January 15.
Some might think this is an easy run. Not quite, considering three of Milan’s five winless matches came against Cremonese, Parma and Pisa. Allegri knows the risks of these matches and wanted to send a clear message. Milan must give the maximum in a crucial phase of the season.
There is an opportunity to take advantage of the direct clashes that will make rivals drop points. The squad is short and injuries, especially in attack, make things harder. Milan must push to collect as many points as possible, “one way or another.” The goal does not matter today. Allegri has repeated it often, real judgement comes in March, and only then will Milan know if the target is only the top four or something more. Head coach ‘Max’ has given the signal. His players must be ready to follow.
