From a Refugee to Ballon d’Or Winner, Story of Luka Modrić

Luka Modrić

2018 Ballon d’Or winner and 11-time Croatian Footballer of the Year Luka Modrić has confirmed his exit from European football giants Real Madrid and is set to join AC Milan.

Born on September 9, 1985, in Zadar, Croatia, Modric rose from a war-torn childhood to becoming one of the greatest midfielders in history.

As a kid in war-torn Croatia, Modrić was a ball boy for NK Zadar. He’d kick stones around refugee camps, honing the skills that made him a Galáctico.

Luka Modrić Family

Modrić’s wife, Vanja Bosnić, is his high school sweetheart and a woman he describes as his “biggest cheerleader”. Married since 2010, she’s his unofficial manager, handling his contracts and keeping him grounded.

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Luka and Vanja have three kids: Ivano (born 2010), Ema (2013), and Sofia (2017).  Modrić is the eldest of three siblings, with sisters Jasmina and Diora. He’s the protective big brother, often flying them to Madrid for games.

Properties Owned

Luka Modrić, has made significant investments in real estate, reflecting his financial success and strategic planning for the future.

Modrić purchased a five-bedroom mansion worth over Ksh150.9 million in Swansea, Wales, following his acquisition of a minority stake in Swansea City, a Championship football club.

The mansion, reportedly bought from former Swansea midfielder Leon Britton, includes amenities and is located close to the beach, a short drive from the club’s training ground.

In 2019, Modrić acquired a modern Ksh1.8 billion mansion in the upscale La Moraleja neighbourhood of Madrid. The 10,000-square-meter property features 2,700 square meters of living space, including nine bedrooms, nine bathrooms, a massage parlour, a gym, a swimming pool, and a large living room, with most of the living space on one floor. This home served as his primary residence while playing for Real Madrid.

In May 2024, through his company Modrić Family SL, Modrić purchased three apartments near Real Madrid’s Valdebebas training complex for Ksh905.3 million and invested over Ksh1.5 billion through Modrić Family SL in 941 square meters of land in Madrid’s elite El Viso district.

Modrić owns a 220-square-meter penthouse on Tkalčićeva Street in Zagreb, located atop a modern building designed to be resistant to earthquakes and fires.

In 2017, Modrić purchased a 286-square-meter luxury villa in the prestigious Pantovčak neighbourhood of Zagreb, previously owned by former footballer Zvonimir Boban. The villa was later transferred to the ownership of his wife, Vanja Modrić.

Modrić owns a luxurious seaside villa in Kožino, near his hometown of Zadar. This property provides privacy and comfort for family stays in Croatia.

Luka Modrić Car Collection

Modric is known for his private lifestyle, but his car collection cannot be avoided. He owns:

Bentley Continental GT: A grand tourer with a 6.o-liter twin turbo W12 engine, producing 626 horsepower and valued at Ksh29.6 million.

Audi RS7: A high-performance version of the A7, equipped, producing 553 horsepower and valued at Ksh15.9 million.

The Audi SQ5: A premium SUV with a 3.0-liter turbo-V6 engine, producing 354 horsepower valued at Ksh25 million.

Audi Q8: A mid-size SUV with a 3.0-liter twin-turbo six-cylinder engine and electric motor, producing 469 horsepower and valued at Ksh 10.7 million.

BMW iX: A premium luxury electric SUV with a 77-kWh battery, producing 326 horsepower and valued at Ksh17 million.

BMW i4: An electric gran coupe with a single motor producing 281 horsepower and a range of up to 300 miles valued at Ksh2.5 million.

Luka Modrić Watch Collection

Luka Modrić’s watch collection showcases his affinity for luxury timepieces. Here are some of the notable watches he owns:

Patek Philippe Nautilus 5726/1A: Features an Annual Calendar and moon-phase display with a blue dial, valued at Ksh20.7 million.

The Patek Philippe Aquanaut Chronograph 5968A: A stainless-steel watch with a dark grey square pattern and orange accents, priced at Ksh15.6 million.

Patek Philippe Nautilus Perpetual Calendar 5740: A grand complication watch in white gold with a blue sunburst dial, valued at Ksh32.3 million.

Omega Speedmaster 50th Anniversary Silver Snoopy Award: A timepiece presented on a blue nylon fabric strap with a silver dial and embossed Snoopy medallion, valued at Ksh 3.2 million.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak: A luxury watch with a stainless-steel case, valued at Ksh32.3 million.

Football as the Remedy to War

Modric’s childhood was shaped by the Croatian War of Independence (1991–1995), with his family fleeing their home in Obrovac, becoming refugees when he was just six.

Despite these hardships, football became Modrić’s escape. In his book, My Game, he describes kicking a ball around hotel parking lots where his family stayed, honing his skills on rough surfaces.

“Football was my freedom,” he writes, explaining how kicking the ball comforted him amidst the deafening explosions and gunfire outside their compound in Zadar’s Hotel Kolovare for years.

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As a child in war-torn Croatia, Modrić was a ball boy for NK Zadar, dodging danger while dreaming of football. He’d kick stones around refugee camps, honing the skills that made him a Galáctico.

Modric to Milan

Luka Modrić, a childhood Milan fan, has delayed his medical examinations until after the Club World Cup out of respect for Real Madrid, where he played since 2012, winning 28 major trophies, including six Champions Leagues and the 2018 Ballon d’Or.

Modrić’s move is motivated by his desire to stay in Europe, maintain top form for the 2026 World Cup, and avoid facing Real Madrid in European competitions, as Milan will not play in Europe next season.

The transfer is expected to be finalized in early July 2025, with medicals in Croatia and a contract signing in Milan.

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