LUKA MODRIC LEADS SERIE A IN PASSES AND INTERCEPTIONS

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Summary:

• Luka Modric leads Serie A in completed passes (300), ball recoveries (31), and interceptions (10) after five matches
• The 40-year-old Milan midfielder has played 425 of 450 possible minutes this season
• Serie A remains Europe's lowest-scoring major league with 1.13 goals per match on average

When AC Milan signed Luka Modric, observers wondered about his physical capacity to compete in Italian football at 40 years old. The concerns centered less on his technical ability and more on whether his body could handle a different style of play.

Serie A stands apart from Europe's other major leagues. The 2025/26 season shows Italian football produces fewer goals per match (1.13) than the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, or Ligue 1. Teams in Serie A concede fewer goals (1.74 per match), keep more clean sheets (over one in three matches), and generate lower expected goals (1.15 per match). Players attempt fewer passes (456 per match) and complete fewer (368 per match), with nine out of ten passes traveling within 30 yards. The league records fewer assists (0.8 per match) and lower expected assists (0.83 per match).

These statistics painted a picture of a league where pace matters less than positioning. Still, questions remained about whether Modric and fellow newcomer Kevin De Bruyne could adapt quickly.

Through five Serie A matches, Modric has answered those questions. The Croatian midfielder has started all four of Milan's league games, playing 425 of 450 possible minutes. He appeared in the loss to Cremonese at home and the wins against Lecce, Bologna, and Udinese. Against Bologna, he scored the decisive goal with his right foot from a Saelemaekers pass.

The numbers tell a story of dominance. Modric leads Serie A with 300 completed passes. He ranks first for passes completed in the opposition half (169) and first for line-breaking passes (46). He has won possession 31 times, more than any other player. His 10 interceptions also top the league.

FBRef data reveals additional dimensions of his influence. Modric leads Serie A in passes into the final third (36), progressive passes (42), and corners taken (18). He ranks third in key passes (10), matching De Bruyne's total. Only Napoli's Di Lorenzo has touched the ball more times (403) than Modric's 397.

Progressive passes measure how effectively a player moves the ball toward the opponent's goal. The definition requires passes of at least 30 meters from a team's own half, 15 meters if crossing the halfway line, or 10 meters in the attacking half. The Touchline reported Modric leads all players across Europe's five major leagues in progressive passes per 90 minutes. He surpasses PSG's Fabian Ruiz, Roma's Cristante, Bayern's Kimmich, and PSG's Vitinha.

De Bruyne has made his own impact at Napoli. The Belgian started all four of Napoli's league wins over Sassuolo, Cagliari, Fiorentina, and Pisa. He scored twice in those matches, both times away from home. His free kick at Reggio Emilia benefited from deflection. His penalty at Florence was cleanly taken. At San Siro against Milan on September 28, he converted another penalty.

Those three away goals made De Bruyne the first midfielder since 2000 to score in his first three Serie A road matches. Only three other players have achieved this feat: Mauro Zarate in 2008, Miroslav Klose in 2011, and Krzysztof Piatek in 2018.

The fifth round of Serie A brought Milan and Napoli together at San Siro. By then, both players had demonstrated their value. Modric and De Bruyne faced each other for the 15th time as opponents, each having proven the doubters wrong.

Serie A's tactical complexity demands intelligence and positioning over raw speed. Modric's performance suggests he understands this requirement perfectly. His age becomes less relevant when his reading of the game compensates for any physical decline. The statistics show a player operating at the highest level, regardless of the number on his birth certificate.

Milan supporters who worried about signing a 40-year-old have seen those concerns evaporate. The Croatian's presence in midfield gives Milan control and creativity. His ability to progress the ball forward creates opportunities for teammates. His defensive contributions, measured by recoveries and interceptions, provide balance.

The early verdict contradicts the initial skepticism. Modric has not merely adapted to Serie A. He dominates it statistically. Whether this form continues throughout a long season remains an open question. For now, the evidence suggests his move to Milan represents one of the shrewdest signings of the transfer window.