Croatia captain Luka Modric continues to write new chapters of his extraordinary career after helping lead his country into the round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup — at the age of 40 — maintaining a distinguished presence in what may be his final appearance at a World Cup.
In a decisive match against Ghana that ended with Croatia winning 2-1, Modric delivered an influential performance across 90 minutes before setting up the winning goal seven minutes from time for his teammate Nikola Vlašić, handing the Vatreni their ticket to the next round.
The former Real Madrid player's role was not limited to making the difference in attack; he also appeared as an essential link in midfield, through his constant movement between defensive and offensive duties and his management of the game's tempo at critical moments of the match.
Modric's performance reflects his customary style built on precise passing, reading the flow of play, and the ability to change the rhythm of a match — qualities that have made him one of the most prominent playmakers in modern football and one of the most influential players of his generation.
Since his debut at the World Cup in 2006, Modric has experienced varied chapters with his national team, before reaching the peak of his international career at Russia 2018, when he led Croatia to a World Cup final for the first time in the country's history and was awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player.
The Croatian national team, under his leadership, repeated that achievement at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by finishing third, reaffirming its permanent presence among the game's elite on the world stage.
With this new qualification to the round of 32, Modric opens an additional chapter in a career spanning more than two decades, with the ambition of continuing to lead Croatia towards a new achievement at a tournament that may prove to be his final appearance on the world stage.