Luka Modrić recently expressed his admiration for former Argentine midfielder Juan Román Riquelme, describing him as one of the most difficult opponents he has ever faced in his career.
The Croatian midfielder recalled his debut with the Croatia national team in 2006, in a friendly match against Argentina, where he had the chance to face not only Lionel Messi—whom he considers the greatest player in history—but also Riquelme, who left an extraordinary impression on him.
In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, Modrić highlighted the importance of that match, describing it as a key moment in his career.
He revealed that the coach had warned them about the difficulty of the challenge, but it was only when he saw Riquelme up close that he understood the reason for the concern.
“When I saw Riquelme on the pitch, I understood why the coach was worried,” Modrić said.
He emphasized the Argentine’s intelligence and vision of the game, noting that the way he read the field and found spaces was extraordinary.
“What I admired most was that every time he had the ball, he scanned the entire pitch—from the nearest spaces to the farthest—always looking for a decisive pass,” the Croatian said.
Modrić also recalled the difficulties of facing him directly, adding that Riquelme’s unique technique made it almost impossible to take the ball from him.
“He moved with the ball in a very special way. He often made me lose balance and would get away easily,” he explained.
Currently, Riquelme serves as president of Boca Juniors, the club where he developed as a player, while Modrić continues his career at club level and with the Croatian national team.
Modrić has participated in four FIFA World Cup tournaments (2006, 2014, 2018, and 2022) and is expected to be part of the next edition, ranking among the players with the most appearances in this prestigious competition.
