Luka Modrić
At 40, in his fifth World Cup, on the back of a Final and a third-place finish no other Croatian generation will ever reach again. Real Madrid let him go after 13 years; Milan took him. Schira reported in May 2026 that he's set to retire from professional football after the tournament. Croatia's golden midfield convenes one more time — knowing, this time, it will not convene again.
Group Stage Schedule
Drawn into a blockbuster Group L with England. The opener in Dallas is a rematch of their classic 2018 semi-final. At 40, Modrić knows this group could be his last stand — or the launchpad for one more Croatia miracle run.
Records in Play
Croatia missed 2010 qualifying, so Modrić's count is one short of the Messi/Ronaldo cohort. But captaining Croatia at his fifth World Cup at 40 puts him in a tiny club — only a handful of midfielders have ever played five.
19 World Cup appearances — already a Croatian record. Every minute he plays extends the books for a country of four million.
2018: Golden Ball, World Cup Final. 2022: third place. No Croatian generation has come close to this. The maestro gets one last conducting opportunity.
Every Chapter
The boy who grew up in a war-torn village, who was told he was too small and too frail, became the most elegant midfielder of his generation. At 40, Modrić is now at AC Milan — still dictating games with his vision and touch. Croatia open against England in Dallas in a Group L blockbuster. This will be the last time.
Luka's 2026 World Cup, Answered
Is 2026 Luka Modrić's last World Cup?
Yes. At 40 the 2026 World Cup is Modrić's last, and reports indicate he plans to retire from professional football after the tournament.
How many World Cups has Luka Modrić played in?
2026 is Modrić's fifth World Cup (2006, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026). Croatia missed 2010 qualifying, so his count is one behind the Messi and Ronaldo cohort.
What is Modrić's best World Cup finish?
Runner-up in 2018, when he won the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player. Croatia then finished third in 2022.
Will Luka Modrić play in the 2026 World Cup?
Yes. Croatia have qualified and Modrić, their captain, is set for his fifth World Cup at 40 — Croatia missed 2010 qualifying, so it is one fewer than the Messi–Ronaldo cohort. They are in Group L with England, Ghana, and Panama.
What group is Croatia in at the 2026 World Cup?
Croatia are in Group L with England, Ghana, and Panama. The opener against England in Dallas is a rematch of their 2018 semi-final.