Luka Modrić has not yet decided whether he will continue playing for Croatia: he first wants talks with Bilić and the HNS
Luka Modrić has not yet made a final decision on whether to continue his international career after the 2026 World Cup. The Croatia captain, who turns 41 on 9 September, confirmed in an interview with the Spanish newspaper AS that before making a decision he wants to speak with the Croatian Football Federation and new head coach Slaven Bilić. This has once again made the question of his future one of the central topics ahead of the start of the new edition of the UEFA Nations League. Croatia already faces an away match against the Czech Republic in Prague on 26 September, followed three days later, on 29 September, by a match against reigning world champions Spain in Seville. According to the information currently available, it has not been officially confirmed whether Modrić will be available for those matches.
Modrić made it clear in the interview published in early September that the decision has not yet been made. According to AS, he said that he first needs to speak with the Federation and Bilić, who took charge of the national team in July following the departure of Zlatko Dalić. The Croatian midfielder did not close the door on continuing to play for the national team, but neither did he announce that he would definitely stay. His approach is consistent with the way he has spoken in recent years about the end of his career: without a predetermined date and with an assessment of his physical condition, motivation and the role he can still play at the highest level. That is precisely why the conversation with the new head coach will be important before Croatia's first gathering after the World Cup.
Bilić's return opened a new chapter
Slaven Bilić was appointed head coach on 13 July 2026 by a decision of the Executive Committee of the Croatian Football Federation. The HNS announced at the time that Bilić had been unanimously elected following a proposal by Federation president Marijan Kustić, after Zlatko Dalić ended his tenure following the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. This is Bilić's second spell in charge of the senior national team. He first led Croatia from 2006 to 2012, during which period Modrić developed from a promising midfielder into one of the key players of the national team.
The connection between the two protagonists also goes back to the period before Modrić established himself in the senior national team. Bilić had coached Croatia's U-21 team from 2004, while Modrić's first call-up to the senior side came from then head coach Zlatko Kranjčar. According to UEFA data, Modrić made his senior debut for Croatia on 1 March 2006 in a 3:2 friendly victory over Argentina. Bilić took over the senior national team after the World Cup that same year and worked with Modrić for the following six years. In the current interview with AS, Modrić described their relationship very positively and said that Bilić's return was a good move by the Federation.
Bilić himself also stressed how important a conversation with the captain would be when taking up the position. At the HNS inauguration press conference, he said that among his first moves he wanted to speak with the players, and above all with Modrić. At the same time, he emphasised that the decision must remain entirely the player's own. Such a public message shows that the new coaching staff wants to leave the door open for continued cooperation, but without creating the impression that Modrić's decision has already been made. For Bilić, it is also the first major squad issue of his second spell as head coach.
Croatia faces a demanding start to the Nations League
The uncertainty surrounding Modrić is particularly important because of the schedule that already follows at the end of September. According to the official HNS and UEFA schedule, Croatia will compete in Group A3 of League A together with Spain, England and the Czech Republic. Their first match will be played on 26 September against the Czech Republic in Prague, followed on 29 September by an away match against Spain in Seville. A home match against England in Rijeka follows as early as 3 October, and on 6 October Croatia will host Spain in Split. The final part of the group stage brings an away match against England on 12 November and a home match against the Czech Republic in Osijek on 15 November.
For the 2026/27 edition, UEFA has scheduled an unusually congested opening international window, meaning that national teams in the Nations League will play four rounds in a short period from the end of September to the beginning of October. This increases the importance of squad depth, the distribution of playing time and workload management, particularly for players who simultaneously have demanding club commitments. In League A, the top two teams from each group advance to the quarter-finals, the third-placed side goes into a play-off to remain in the top division, while the last-placed team is relegated to League B. For Croatia, therefore, the beginning of Bilić's second spell immediately brings competitive pressure and matches against opponents from the European elite.
Modrić's experience in such a schedule could be significant even if his possible role is not identical to the one he had in previous cycles. He is a player who has been present in international football for more than two decades and is accustomed to the biggest matches, but any decision to continue his career would have to take into account his age, club calendar and the way Bilić sees him in the new cycle. For now, there is no official information on whether a possible continuation would involve the full competitive programme, more selective appearances or a different distribution of minutes. All such possibilities remain speculation until Modrić, Bilić and the HNS hold the announced conversation.
The 2026 World Cup did not bring a final farewell
The question of Modrić's international future became even more open after the 2026 World Cup, his fifth appearance at the final tournament. Croatia finished second in Group L after a 4:2 defeat to England and victories of 1:0 against Panama and 2:1 against Ghana. In the round of 32, the new stage introduced with the expansion of the tournament, Croatia lost 2:1 to Portugal in Toronto. According to FIFA's report, Ivan Perišić gave Croatia the lead, Cristiano Ronaldo equalised from the penalty spot, and Gonçalo Ramos scored the winning goal late in the match.
At that tournament, Modrić reached another remarkable international milestone. In the victory over Panama, he made his 200th appearance for Croatia, and FIFA highlighted the achievement as one of the rare feats in international football. By the end of Croatia's World Cup campaign, the number of appearances had risen to 202, as also confirmed by reports published in early September. Modrić also played a total of 23 matches across five World Cups, placing him among the footballers with the highest number of appearances in the history of the competition.
The World Cup nevertheless did not bring a formal announcement that his international career had ended. After the elimination, the focus quickly shifted to the change of head coach and the start of a new cycle. Dalić ended a period that included silver at the 2018 World Cup, bronze in 2022 and second place in the 2023 Nations League, while Bilić was given the task of continuing the process with a generation that is gradually changing. In that context, Modrić's decision has broader significance than the question of whether he will play in one or two September matches: it also affects the way the transition between two eras of the national team will be defined.
Club career continues in Milan
While his status with the national team remains open, Modrić's club future for the 2026/27 season has already been defined. AC Milan officially announced on 23 July that the Croatian midfielder had signed a contract until 30 June 2027. The club stated that in his first season in the red-and-black shirt he made 37 appearances and scored two goals, and that he remains an important part of the team. Modrić explained in the interview with AS that he made the decision to continue his club career after assessing his own motivation and physical condition and speaking with people at Milan about the project for the new season.
Additional confirmation that he remains competitive at a high level came shortly before the current debate about the national team. The Croatian Football Federation announced on 3 September that Modrić had been selected in the Serie A Team of the Season for 2025/26, alongside Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Scott McTominay in midfield. Such recognition in itself does not provide an answer to the question of whether he will continue playing for Croatia, but it shows that the discussion about his future is not based solely on age. Modrić continues to play in one of Europe's leading leagues and enters the new season with a contract lasting until the summer of 2027.
In AS, he also did not want to confirm that this season would be his last in professional football. He said that he would monitor how he feels throughout the year and make decisions accordingly. Such an approach is also important for understanding the international dilemma: continuing his club career does not automatically mean continuing his international career, just as a possible retirement from the national team would not necessarily mean the end of his time playing for Milan. These are two separate decisions, although they are linked by workload, motivation and an assessment of his own role.
More than a question of one international window
Modrić's possible continuation would carry both symbolic and sporting significance. Since making his debut in 2006, he has become captain, the record appearance holder and the central figure of the most successful period in the history of the Croatian national team. He led the team to the 2018 World Cup final, third place in 2022 and the 2023 Nations League final, and in 2018 he also won the Ballon d'Or. His longevity gained additional significance at the 2026 World Cup, when he reached the milestone of 200 appearances and continued playing against the world's best national teams at the age of 40.
On the other hand, Bilić is taking over the team at a time when he must simultaneously preserve continuity and develop a new hierarchy. The national team already has a number of established players with experience at major tournaments, but the start of a new head coach's tenure naturally raises questions about the distribution of responsibility in the dressing room and on the pitch. Modrić's decision will therefore also be important for other midfielders and for the way the team is assembled in the Nations League and later qualifying cycles. Regardless of the outcome of the conversation, it is clear that the HNS and the head coach want the decision to be made through direct communication with the player who has defined the last two decades of Croatian international football.
For now, the most important fact is that there is no final confirmation. Modrić has not announced his retirement, but neither has he confirmed that he will attend Bilić's first gathering. The nearest deadline is imposed by the schedule itself: Croatia opens the Nations League against the Czech Republic in Prague on 26 September, followed by an away match against Spain in Seville on 29 September. Given that the squad list and preparations will have to be defined before those matches, it is expected that talks between the captain, the head coach and the Federation will soon clarify the situation. Until then, the question remains open whether Luka Modrić will add new chapters to his record-breaking international career after 202 appearances.
Sources:
- AS – interview with Luka Modrić about continuing his career, his relationship with Slaven Bilić and the decision on his international future (link)
- Croatian Football Federation – official announcement on the appointment of Slaven Bilić as Croatia head coach (link)
- Croatian Football Federation – Bilić's inauguration press conference and announcement of talks with Luka Modrić (link)
- Croatian Football Federation – Croatia's 2026/27 Nations League schedule and information on the competition format (link)
- UEFA – official schedule and composition of Group A3 of the 2026/27 Nations League (link)
- FIFA – report on the Portugal - Croatia match and the end of Croatia's participation at the 2026 World Cup (link)
- FIFA – information on Luka Modrić's 200th appearance for Croatia and his international achievements (link)
- AC Milan – official confirmation of the extension of Modrić's contract until 30 June 2027 (link)
- Croatian Football Federation – announcement of Luka Modrić's selection in the Serie A Team of the Season for 2025/26 (link)
- FIFA – statistics on players with the most World Cup appearances, including Modrić's 23 matches across five tournaments (link)
- HRT / Hina – report on Modrić's statement and the figure of 202 appearances for the Croatian national team (link)