Luka Modric was at his unbelievable best as Real Madrid defeated Liverpool in the Champions League last 16, and his personal highlights belong in an art gallery.
Modric didn't so much turn the clock back as he did completely smash it to pieces, as he once again proved the phrase 'time waits for no man' clearly forgot him.
Despite getting close to 40-years-old, the Real midfielder put on a masterclass that helped drag his team from 2-0 down inside 15 minutes, to beating the hosts 5-2.
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Best Moment
For the Croatian it may well have been the fact that his performance earned him a standing ovation from the home crowd, as he was subbed off in the 87th minute.
It was like the time Ronaldo earned the same for Real against Manchester United at Old Trafford, only Modric didn't need to score a hat-trick.
On the pitch it was the ease in which he intercepted a ball, beat two Liverpool midfielders and slipped in a pass for Vinicius Junior, the Brazilian then set up Karim Benzema for the fifth of the night for the reigning European champions.
Player rating - 8.5/10
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Like the rest of his teammates, Modric failed to impose himself on the game at the start, as Jurgen Klopp's side looked to have showed they'd really turned a corner in their season.
By the time he came off though, the applause from the Anfield faithful was probably as much out of relief that he was coming off as it was out of respect for his performance.
What was said about their performance?
Ahead of the match the Ballon d'Or winner had talked about wanting to earn a contract and, following his performance, Carlo Ancelotti suggested he'd done it in one night, saying, "Modric has already shown he deserves a contract renewal. He’s amazing.”
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“Modric had a hard time in January. He was not feeling well but now he’s back. His physical condition is great. I’m convinced you will see the best Luka again.”
La Liga expert David Cartlidge said, "Modric longevity never ceases to amaze. It's one thing playing at 37, it's another to still be running games on an elite level at 37."
Video highlights
Overall verdict
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There isn't much left to say about Modric's career overall, never mind this one off performance, but what an incredible night it was with him as one of the main characters.
He once again imposed his will on a huge night in the Champions League, having already won the competition on five occasions with the club.
At 37 you'd wonder how much longer he can keep putting in these performances but he shows no signs of slowing down and it's no wonder Ancelotti talked up his chances of a new deal.
Not many midfielders could have put in that kind of stunning performance and Liverpool will have to cope with it all over again at the Bernabeu in a few weeks.
Featured Image Credit: TwitterTopics: Football, La Liga, Champions League, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Luka Modric