Luka Modric Sets Serie A Assist Record as Milan Faces Udinese
The 40-year-old midfielder surpassed Zlatan Ibrahimovic's milestone with an early assist to Christian Pulisic.
Milan faced Udinese at the Bluenergy Stadium in Udine during the eighth round of Serie A, featuring a heavily rotated squad following a difficult week. Manager Ruben Amorim had to manage significant roster limitations due to injuries and suspensions following their recent Europa League match against Bournemouth.
Early in the match, 40-year-old midfielder Luka Modric made league history. In the sixth minute, Modric delivered a precise pass to American teammate Christian Pulisic, who broke through the Udinese defense and slotted the ball home to give the visitors an early advantage.
According to statistics network Opta, that assist set a new Serie A record for the most assists by a player after turning 40, in records dating back to the 2004-2005 season when the competition returned to a 20-team format. Modric reached a tally of four assists since his 40th birthday, surpassing the previous record held by Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who recorded three.
Milan entered the fixture dealing with multiple sidelined players. Adrien Rabiot, Mario Gila, and Diego Moreira sustained injuries during the 3-0 Europa League defeat at Bournemouth, compounding existing long-term absences for Samuel Chukwueze, Matteo Gabbia, Alexis Saelemaekers, and Pietro Terracciano.
Manager Ruben Amorim explained his lineup choices prior to kickoff to DAZN Italia, emphasizing the physical toll of the schedule. "With this schedule, it's impossible to use everyone at the same time," Amorim stated. "Because we need to try to win every game, we need to balance everything, and they are not available for today."
The team was also forced to cope without goalkeeper Mike Maignan, who received a red card against Bournemouth for shoving Tyler Adams during a corner kick. Amorim noted that he addressed the incident directly with the player, remarking that Maignan understood immediately that such actions are unacceptable.
Despite being unbeaten in Serie A this season, Milan's performances have drawn scrutiny following draws against Juventus, Lazio, and Sassuolo, alongside a narrow win over Atalanta. Amorim stressed that the squad must match the physical competitiveness of their opponents moving forward, particularly with an upcoming midweek fixture against Bologna and the Derby della Madonnina against Inter.