The Italian football world witnessed a historic moment as Croatian legend Luka Modric made his Serie A debut for AC Milan, breaking a long-standing record in the process.
At 39 years and 11 months, Modric became the oldest player to debut in the Italian top-flight league, a bittersweet milestone for the veteran midfielder as his new team suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Cremonese.
Modric's record surpasses the mark previously held by Empoli goalkeeper Maurizio Pugliesi, who debuted in 2016 at 39 years and 5 months.
While the result was not what the Rossoneri faithful hoped for, the debut itself cemented Modric's extraordinary longevity and career trajectory.
An era ends at Real Madrid
Months have passed since his emotional farewell from Real Madrid, but the impact of Modric's departure is still being felt.
His exit from the Spanish capital not only marked the end of his illustrious 13-year tenure but also broke a nearly 25-year streak for the club. With his departure, Real Madrid's tradition of having a Ballon d'Or winner in its squad came to an end.