Luka Modric heads to fifth World Cup at age 40, defying every retirement timeline
The Croatian maestro recovered from a fractured cheekbone just in time to chase history at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States.
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Add us on Google by Editorial Team Jun. 9, 2026Luka Modric is 40 years old, fresh off a fractured cheekbone, and apparently allergic to retirement. The Croatian midfielder has been named to his country’s 26-man preliminary squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, confirmed on May 18. This will be his fifth World Cup appearance, a feat that puts him in extremely rare company in the history of international football.
From fractured cheekbone to World Cup squad
Modric sustained a fractured cheekbone in late April 2026 during his duties with AC Milan, an injury that effectively ended his club season early. Modric is expected to be fit for the tournament’s kickoff on June 11, giving him roughly six weeks of recovery time.
He currently sits at 198 international caps for Croatia. If he takes the pitch in all of his country’s group stage matches, he’ll hit the 200-cap milestone during the tournament itself.
AdvertisementRecent footage showed Modric attending mass with the Croatian national team before their departure for the US.
A World Cup resume that reads like fiction
His previous appearances came in 2014, 2018, and 2022. The 2018 edition in Russia was the crown jewel. Modric captained Croatia all the way to the final and won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player. Four years later in Qatar, Croatia managed a third-place finish at the 2022 World Cup.
The 2026 tournament features an expanded format of 48 teams, hosted across three nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Croatia punched their ticket to this tournament by defeating the Faroe Islands 3-1 on November 14, 2025.
Group L presents an immediate test
Croatia’s draw has placed them in Group L alongside England, Panama, and Ghana. Their opening match is scheduled for June 17, 2026, in Arlington, Texas.
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