Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has paid an emotional tribute to Luka Modric following the Croatian midfielder's announcement that he will be leaving the Spanish giants after more than a decade of service.

Modric, who joined Real Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur in 2012, announced on Wednesday that he will depart the club after the FIFA Club World Cup. The 38-year-old midfielder has enjoyed a stellar career at the Santiago Bernabeu, winning an impressive 28 trophies during his 13-year stint.

Taking to Instagram to honor his teammate, Mbappe wrote: "Brate, I was lucky enough to be able to play and share the locker room with you this season. But you won something that has no price: the respect and the admiration of the world. Thank you for everything LEGEND."

The French international, who joined Real Madrid this season after leaving Paris Saint-Germain, described Modric as "a wonderful person and one of the best players in football history," expressing gratitude for the opportunity to have played alongside the veteran midfielder.

Modric's departure comes at a time of significant change for Real Madrid, with manager Carlo Ancelotti also confirmed to be leaving at the end of the season to take charge of the Brazilian national team.

The Croatian international's legacy at Real Madrid is marked by his exceptional playmaking abilities and leadership, which helped the club secure numerous domestic and international honors, including multiple UEFA Champions League titles.

Modric, who won the Ballon d'Or in 2018, breaking the decade-long dominance of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, will be remembered as one of Real Madrid's most influential midfielders and a key architect of their recent golden era.

As speculation grows about who will inherit Modric's iconic number 10 shirt at the Bernabeu, fans worldwide continue to pay tribute to the diminutive midfielder whose technical brilliance and vision transformed Real Madrid's midfield for over a decade.