Luka Modric vs Lionel Messi: Real Madrid star came out on top during late duel

At the tender age of 36, Luka Modric is still an absolute baller and one of the very best midfielders in world football.

The Ballon d’Or winner dropped yet another match-winning display for Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday evening to knockout a star-studded Paris Saint-Germain side.

For a while during the second leg of the tie at the Bernabeu, it looked as if PSG were going to emerge victorious thanks to Kylian Mbappe‘s sublime first half goal that put them 2-0 up on aggregate.

But a 16-minute hat-trick from the magnificent Karim Benzema in the second period turned the tie completely on its head.

Modric played a huge role in the Frenchman’s second goal, the silky Croatian midfielder breaking forward from deep with a trademark burst and then producing a delicious through ball into Benzema’s path seconds later.

36 years old Modric pic.twitter.com/jFmqlViGV4

What a ridiculous footballer he is.

And just two minutes before he weaved some magic to create a goal, Modric sent the Bernabeu wild by going into ‘beast mode’ in order to stop Lionel Messi on the counter.

When you thwart Real Madrid’s arch nemesis by winning a race and then upending him with the cleanest of slide tackles, it’s always going to go down well with Madridistas…

2 legends going hard at it. Messi v Modric pic.twitter.com/0tSCjYjn36

pic.twitter.com/IcdehyGVT5

In one of the most energy-draining games of the season, 36 year old Modric in the 74th minute, sprints back down the flank and bullies Messi off the ball. Bernabeu goes nuts. Season on the line: Team high 88 touches, 4 tackles, runs length of the pitch to set up 2nd goal.

There was only going to be one winner, wasn’t there? Modric just wanted it more and the hunger he and the rest of his