The final curtain of the 23-year professional career of Luka Modric, one of modern football's most elegant midfielders, is approaching. According to reports by transfer expert Nicolo Schira and La Gazzetta dello Sport, the 40-year-old Croatian legend is preparing to retire from professional football after the 2026 World Cup. It was stated that Modric will not sign a new contract with AC Milan.
Behind this decision lie two big factors. First, the two basic conditions Modric set for staying at Milan were not met: the team could not stay in the Champions League. Milan lost 2-1 to Cagliari in the last week of the league, finishing Serie A in 5th place, one point behind Como, and will compete in the Europa League next season. Second, the Croatian captain's close-bonded coach Massimiliano Allegri was dismissed from the club.
According to Football Italia, the free kick Modric took in the 96th minute against Cagliari at the San Siro could be the last action of his club career. The Cardinale family's (Milan owner Gerry Cardinale) plan to completely rebuild the management structure also reinforces the fact that the competitive atmosphere Modric expected may not be found at Milan next season.
Looking at Modric's career is somewhat like touring football history: the professional journey that began at Dinamo Zagreb in 2003 reached its peak at Real Madrid between 2012-2025. Lifting six Champions League trophies at Madrid, Modric also won the Ballon d'Or in 2018. He carried Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final (lost to France) and to third place at the 2022 World Cup.
The 2026 World Cup will be the Croatian legend's fifth and final tournament. Modric, who will turn 41 in September, started in 32 of Milan's 34 Serie A matches this season with the Milan shirt; he played a total of 2,788 minutes — a number he could not reach in any of his last five seasons at Real Madrid. His daughter has also joined Milan's youth setup; they have established an emotional bond with the club as a family.
In conclusion, Modric, one of modern football's greatest examples of those who "defy age," is preparing to write the final scene of his career with Croatia's national team. If Schira's information is correct, a free kick in the Cagliari match could be the last touch of Real Madrid's unforgettable midfielder on a football. Croatia wants to take the stage one last time to send off its legend properly.
Source: Based on reports by Nicolo Schira (X), La Gazzetta dello Sport, World Soccer Talk, and Football Italia.
Tuna Başkan
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