Modric does not take a break. And when he does, he will be halfway there. This means he is always on the field, whether starting or coming off the bench. Since missing the game in Alcoy due to a minor injury sustained during training, the Real Madrid player has played 16 games in a row, 14 as a starter and two as a substitute.

Even in friendly matches with Croatia, he does not rest. He played as a starter for 69 minutes in 1-1 draw with Slovenia. As a result, he increased the number of games played in a row. Modric has not seen a match from the stands or the bench since that Copa del Rey match on January 5.

This season, 'Lukita' has only missed 8 duels. On matchdays 2 and 3, he was unable to play due to an adductor injury, so Ancelotti rested him against Mallorca (6-1) and Osasuna (0-0). He then missed the game against Rayo (2-1) due to a cold, and the coronavirus forced him to miss the matches against Cádiz (0-0) and Athletic (1-2).

Now that he has played so many games, he is at a higher risk of injury. If Ancelotti does not want to lose the Croatian, one of Real Madrid's most important players, in the most crucial part of the season, he will have to manage his minutes carefully.