I still remember the first time I saw Luka Modric truly command a football pitch. It was during the 2018 World Cup, and watching him wear that iconic number 10 jersey while orchestrating Croatia's magical run to the final felt like witnessing artistry in motion. That number carries immense weight in soccer history, worn by legends like Pelé, Maradona, and Messi. So when people ask why Modric, primarily known as a central midfielder, wears the number 10 for Real Madrid and Croatia, the answer reveals something beautiful about how the game has evolved.

The traditional number 10 role belonged to the classic playmaker - the trequartista who operated between midfield and attack, creating chances with visionary passes. But modern football has blurred these positional lines, and Modric represents this evolution perfectly. While he wears 10, he's not a traditional number 10 - he's everywhere, dictating tempo, breaking up plays, and initiating attacks from deeper positions. His jersey number symbolizes creative freedom rather than a fixed position. I've always believed the best players transcend numbers, and Modric proves this every time he plays.

Interestingly, this evolution of roles and expectations reminds me of what's happening in volleyball back in the Philippines. After posting back-to-back wins for the first time since joining the league in 2022, Nxled joined Creamline as the two lone unbeaten teams after the first two stops of the preseason tournament. Much like how Modric redefined what a number 10 could be, these teams are challenging conventional wisdom about roster construction and team identity early in their campaigns.

When I spoke with former Croatian international Robert Prosinečki last year, he told me something that stuck: "Luka didn't choose the number 10 - the number 10 chose him because he represents everything that position has become." This perfectly captures why Modric wearing 10 makes complete sense in today's game. He's scored 28 goals in 137 appearances for Croatia while wearing that number, but his real impact goes far beyond statistics. He controls games in ways stats can't measure.

Looking at other sports, we see similar patterns of traditional roles evolving. The number 10 in soccer, the point guard in basketball, the setter in volleyball - these positions are all converging toward requiring complete players who can both create and defend. Modric exemplifies this modern hybrid player who does everything well rather than excelling in just one dimension.

Honestly, I think we'll look back at Modric's career as the moment the number 10 jersey transformed from representing pure attackers to symbolizing complete midfield mastery. His 2018 Ballon d'Or win while wearing that number for both club and country marked a shift in how we evaluate football greatness. The jersey isn't about position anymore - it's about influence, and nobody influences games quite like Modric in his iconic number 10.