Luka Modric
Croatia
MID
Age
40
Appearances
0
Goals
0
About Luka Modric
Luka Modric is the Croatia captain, named in Zlatko Dalic's final 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup announced on 18 May 2026, listed in the midfield group with Mateo Kovacic, Mario Pasalic, Nikola Vlasic and Luka Sucic. The AC Milan midfielder is 40 at kick-off and brings 196 senior Croatia caps and 28 international goals into the tournament, recovering from a fractured cheekbone heading into the squad announcement window.
Croatia face England, Ghana and Panama in Group L, with the opener against England at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on 17 June. Croatia won UEFA Group L to qualify on 14 November 2025. Modric carries the side's senior leadership into what will be his fifth senior World Cup, with the captain's role explicitly confirmed.
Croatia face England, Ghana and Panama in Group L, with the opener against England at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on 17 June. Croatia won UEFA Group L to qualify on 14 November 2025. Modric carries the side's senior leadership into what will be his fifth senior World Cup, with the captain's role explicitly confirmed.
World Cup 2026 Stats
Appearances
0
Minutes played
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Key passes
0
Accuracy
0%
Playing Style
Modric is a central midfielder and Croatia captain, with tempo control, ball progression and press resistance central to his game. He is one of the greatest midfielders of all time, the greatest Croatian player ever and the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner. Dalic's 4-2-3-1 places him in the central seat alongside Kovacic and Pasalic.
His 196 caps and 28 international goals carry the scale of his Croatia career into the tournament. Leadership, central-midfield experience and four prior World Cups define what he brings to the Group L opener.
His 196 caps and 28 international goals carry the scale of his Croatia career into the tournament. Leadership, central-midfield experience and four prior World Cups define what he brings to the Group L opener.
World Cup History
Modric has played at four previous World Cups. He made substitute appearances at Germany 2006 and Croatia's group-stage runs at Brazil 2014 both ended in early exits. At Russia 2018 he captained Croatia to the final and won the Golden Ball, scoring from the penalty spot against Nigeria and from open play in the 3-0 win over Argentina before a 4-2 defeat to France.
At Qatar 2022 he again captained Croatia, won the Bronze Ball and scored in the quarter-final shoot-out against Brazil as Croatia finished third. The 2026 World Cup is his fifth, again as captain under Dalic, with Group L opening against England in Arlington on 17 June.
At Qatar 2022 he again captained Croatia, won the Bronze Ball and scored in the quarter-final shoot-out against Brazil as Croatia finished third. The 2026 World Cup is his fifth, again as captain under Dalic, with Group L opening against England in Arlington on 17 June.
National Team
Croatia
Tier 3
£17m
📋 Teammates (12)
View teamGoalkeepers
Defenders
Midfielders
Forwards
Goal Rush Impact
Croatia sit in Tier 3 at £17m within the game's £200m card budget. The Group L draw — England, Ghana and Panama — frames Dalic's 4-2-3-1 group-stage selection logic.
Modric gives Croatia's £17m pick its leadership and creative spine: 196 caps, 28 international goals, the 2018 Ballon d'Or pedigree and a fifth World Cup as captain. The central-midfield seat is the foundation the rest of the Croatia card plays through, with Kovacic and Pasalic alongside.
Modric gives Croatia's £17m pick its leadership and creative spine: 196 caps, 28 international goals, the 2018 Ballon d'Or pedigree and a fifth World Cup as captain. The central-midfield seat is the foundation the rest of the Croatia card plays through, with Kovacic and Pasalic alongside.
🏆 Goal Rush
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Modric at the 2026 World Cup
Modric returns for a fifth World Cup as Croatia's captain, the senior name in Dalic's midfield at age 40. The AC Milan playmaker leads the 4-2-3-1 into Group L, with England in Arlington as the opener after Germany 2006, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.
Picking Croatia in Goal Rush
On matchday, Modric is the tempo lever for Croatia's £17m card. His captaincy, creative passing range and senior caps anchor the team's central platform across the Group L games, with the Ballon d'Or-winning playmaker pulling the strings from midfield.
Luka Modric World Cup 2026 FAQs
Modric is Croatia's £17m Tier 3 Goal Rush pick. At 40 and as captain, he runs the team's central tempo from midfield and is the senior creative reference for the Croatia card across Group L matchdays.
Modric is a central midfielder. He is described as a playmaker known for passing range, vision, ball progression and tempo control, with press resistance under pressure, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all time and the greatest Croatian player ever.
Modric has 196 caps for Croatia as of 1 April 2026, with 28 international goals. He is the captain of the national team heading into his fifth senior World Cup, having previously played at Germany 2006, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.
Modric plays for AC Milan. He won the Golden Ball at the 2018 World Cup in Russia as the tournament's best player when he captained Croatia to the final, and the Bronze Ball at Qatar 2022 as Croatia finished third.
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