Luka Modric Faces Possible Retirement After Croatia's World Cup Exit

Luka Modric, the legendary Croatian midfielder, may be playing the final match of his illustrious career following Croatia's 2-1 loss to Portugal in the Round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup. At 40 years old and currently a free agent after a season with AC Milan, Modric's future in professional football is uncertain. He previously played for Tottenham Hotspur from 2008 to 2012 and is most famously associated with Real Madrid, where he played from 2012 to 2025. During his career, Modric won the UEFA Champions League six times, the most by any player in history, and secured four La Liga titles.

Modric has made 202 appearances for the Croatian national team, one of only four players to surpass 200 caps. He led Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final and a third-place finish in 2022, earning the Ballon d'Or in 2018. His childhood club, Dinamo Zagreb, has been linked with a potential farewell season for him. However, there is a strong possibility that Modric will retire after a senior career spanning from 2003.

Other veteran Croatian players such as Ivan Perisic (37), Andrej Kramaric (35), and Ante Budimir (35) may also be concluding their international careers, following the retirements of Dejan Lovren and Ivan Rakitic. Croatia's head coach Zlatko Dalic, who has been in charge since 2017, is expected to continue leading the team beyond this tournament.