'Stop reminding me of my age' - Record-breaking Luka Modric hits back with historic first AC Milan goal after his 40th birthday

With the game still locked at 0-0 in the 60th minute, Modric capped off a counter-attack he had initiated. Receiving the ball on the right, Belgian winger Alexis Saelemaekers slipped a pass between two Bologna defenders into Modric’s path, and the veteran midfielder coolly slotted his shot past goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski to secure Milan’s victory.

The strike made Modric only the fifth player to score in Serie A after turning 40. He also surpassed Milan legend Nils Liedholm to become the oldest midfielder ever to score in the competition.

Modric was happy to be able to get the win for his team as he said: “It was a great way to celebrate. We won, which is the most important thing, and now we have to focus on the next matches.”

Modric then hoped people would remind him of his age, adding: “I hope people will not remind me of my age anymore! It was a good move, Ale [Saelemakers] gave me a great ball and it was easy to score, it was more his pass than my finish. I thought the whole team fought well, game by game I am sure we’ll get more confident, and when players come back, when we get to know each other more, we will get better.”

Modric was also praised by Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri calling him an extraordinary player who was one-step ahead of his opponents. The goal came just five days after the ex-Real Madrid star turned 40 years old and in just his third Serie A start for the Rossoneri.

Modric will hope that his goal will help instil confidence in his teammates after a losing start to their 2025-26 campaign. Milan will hope Modric will once again be able to play a protagonist role when Milan travel to the Friuli to take on Udinese on Saturday.