Croatia midfielder Luka Modrić is refusing to let retirement rumours distract him, stating that his attention is fully on leading Croatia in the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Modric is currently the captain of the Croatian national team participating in the North America, Central America World Cup. Croatia will face England, Panama, and Ghana in the group stage of this tournament.
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Amid reports that this tournament could be his final appearance, the veteran midfielder remains focused on delivering strong performances.
“I’m focused exclusively on the tournament because I want to help the team in the best possible way,” he told media.
Ahead of Croatia’s opening World Cup match against England, the team captain delivered a confident message to the media: “We respect everyone, but we’re not afraid of anyone. Now it’s up to us to prove it on the pitch.”
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The World Cup is an indispensable stage when discussing Modric and Croatia. Croatia has proven its strong competitiveness on the global stage by finishing as runners-up in the 2018 Russia World Cup and reaching the semifinals in the 2022 Qatar World Cup. In the 1998 France World Cup, the team also achieved third place led by Davor Suker.
Modrić currently plays for AC Milan, where he has been a key starter in Serie A. Despite having an option to extend his contract with Milan for another year, reports suggest he may be leaning towards retirement or transitioning into an off-field role, with clubs like Real Madrid reportedly interested in bringing him back in a coaching or ambassadorial capacity.
