Mansion Sports – Luka Modrić expressed his wish for people to stop reminding him of his age after scoring his first goal for AC Milan while celebrating his 40th birthday. His decisive strike secured a narrow 1-0 victory for the Rossoneri over Bologna at San Siro.

A Tough Battle at San Siro

The match proved challenging as Bologna enjoyed long spells of possession, leaving Milan frustrated. The Rossoneri were denied repeatedly when their efforts struck the crossbar three times before Modrić finally broke the deadlock.

After orchestrating the buildup, Modrić connected with a precise cutback from Alexis Saelemaekers to finish clinically inside the penalty area. 

This goal carried historical weight, as Modrić officially became the fifth player in Serie A history to score after turning 40.

A Childhood Dream Fulfilled

For Modrić, the goal held deep emotional significance. Having supported Milan since his childhood, finding the net at San Siro represented the realization of a lifelong dream.

“It is a beautiful way to celebrate my birthday. We won, which is the most important thing, and now we must focus on the next match,” Modrić told DAZN Italia.

He added humorously: “I hope people will stop reminding me about my age! The goal came from excellent team movement, Ale delivered a wonderful pass, and all I had to do was finish it. It was more about his assist than my strike.”

Praise from Saelemaekers

Alexis Saelemaekers, the provider of the assist for Modrić’s historic goal, expressed admiration for the Croatian legend.

“As a kid, I used to watch Modrić play. Now, standing alongside him on the pitch feels like a dream come true. He is an extraordinary player, but more importantly, he is a humble person. For that goal, everything started with him,” the Belgian midfielder told DAZN Italia.

Allegri’s Team Identity Begins to Shine

Although head coach Massimiliano Allegri was sent off during stoppage time, with his jacket even torn in the process, the victory reflected the resilient character of his team.

Saelemaekers emphasized: “The coach has been doing an incredible job since day one. We can feel that this team has the mentality to achieve something significant, and we hope to continue this momentum.”

He also spoke about his role within Allegri’s tactical setup: “I really enjoy this position because it allows me to run from deep and attack the opposition’s defense, while Tomori always provides outstanding cover at the back.”