Luka Modric is not ready to close the door on his remarkable international career.
The Croatia captain has decided to continue playing for his country following a period of uncertainty after the 2026 World Cup. The 40-year-old informed new national team coach Slaven Bilic that he remains available for selection and wants to continue representing Croatia.
The decision means Modric is expected to be part of Croatia’s squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League campaign, which begins later this month.
Croatia will visit Czechia on September 26 and Spain on September 29 before facing England at home on October 3. The remaining Group A3 fixtures include another meeting with Spain on October 6 and November matches against England and Czechia.
Modric’s decision comes after Croatia’s elimination from the World Cup raised significant questions about whether one of the greatest players in the country’s history had played his final international match.
Modric Reconsiders Croatia Future After World Cup
Croatia’s World Cup ended with a 2-1 defeat against Portugal in the Round of 32.
Modric started and played the entire match. It was his 202nd senior appearance for Croatia, extending a national record that already places him far ahead of every other player in the country’s history.
He had entered the tournament with expectations that it could represent his final appearance on football’s biggest international stage.
Modric played in all four of Croatia’s World Cup matches, starting against England, Panama, Ghana and Portugal. Croatia defeated Panama 1-0 and Ghana 2-1 after losing 4-2 against England in its opening match.
Following the elimination, Modric took time to consider whether he wanted to continue internationally.
His situation became one of the first major issues facing Bilic after the former West Ham manager returned for another spell in charge of Croatia. Bilic made it clear after his appointment that convincing Modric to remain with the national team was one of his priorities.
Modric has ultimately decided that his Croatia career is not finished.
Modric Remains Croatia’s Record Appearance Holder
Modric made his senior international debut against Argentina on March 1, 2006.
More than two decades later, he has accumulated 202 appearances and 29 goals for Croatia. He has also recorded 21 assists during his international career.
His international career has included appearances at six World Cups, beginning with the 2006 tournament in Germany.
His defining international achievement came in 2018, when he captained Croatia to its first World Cup final. Modric won the tournament’s Golden Ball before later becoming the first player other than Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to win the Ballon d’Or since Kaká in 2007.
Croatia followed its 2018 run by finishing third at the 2022 World Cup and reaching the UEFA Nations League final in 2023.
Modric also holds Croatia’s World Cup appearance record with 23 matches.
Modric Also Extends His Career With AC Milan
His decision to remain with Croatia follows another major decision regarding his club career.
Modric has extended his stay with AC Milan for another season, keeping him at San Siro through 2027.
He joined Milan in 2025 after ending his legendary spell with Real Madrid and became an important part of the Italian club’s midfield during his first season.
Modric made 34 Serie A appearances in 2025-26, starting 32 times and playing 2,816 minutes. He scored twice and provided three assists.
The midfielder turns 41 on September 9, but he has resisted setting a definitive date for retirement. In a recent interview with AS, Modric explained that he intends to continue playing while his body allows him to perform and he retains the motivation to compete.
That approach will now apply to both Milan and Croatia.
Instead of the World Cup defeat to Portugal becoming his 202nd and final international appearance, Modric is preparing to add another chapter to a Croatia career that began more than 20 years ago.
