The Croatia captain will remain available for the national team after initially leaving his international future open following the 2026 World Cup.
Luka Modrić has decided to continue his international career with Croatia, extending one of the most remarkable stories in modern European football. The midfielder will be available for the upcoming Nations League fixtures after speaking with new head coach Slaven Bilić and Croatian Football Federation president Marijan Kustić. Modrić had initially left the door open to retirement following Croatia’s World Cup exit, but has now confirmed that he wants to keep representing his country.
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| Luka Modrić makes decision on Croatia future as legend continues at 41 |
Modrić remains Croatia’s midfield leader
The decision means Modrić will continue playing for Croatia as he approaches his 41st birthday on September 9. The AC Milan midfielder has already won 202 caps and scored 29 goals for his country since making his debut in 2006. He remains Croatia’s most-capped player by a considerable margin and has been the central figure of the team during its most successful era, including the 2018 World Cup final and the 2022 World Cup third-place finish.
His club form also offers a strong argument for continuing. Modrić was selected in the Serie A Team of the Season for 2025/26 after helping Milan finish fifth. He made 34 league appearances, scoring twice and providing three assists, while Milan confirmed in July that he had signed a new contract through June 2027.
A new chapter under Slaven Bilić
Modrić’s return will give Bilić an experienced leader as Croatia begin a new Nations League campaign. The midfielder previously worked with Bilić during the former Croatia manager’s first spell in charge, making the upcoming reunion particularly significant. Croatia’s opening Nations League fixture is against Czechia on September 26, followed by meetings with Spain and England in a demanding Group A schedule.
For now, retirement can wait. Modrić will enter another international campaign at an age when most players have long since left the stage, yet his story with Croatia is not finished. With 202 appearances already behind him, the Milan star now has the chance to add another chapter to a career that has made him one of the defining figures in Croatian football.