Luka Modrić is not retired. AC Milan extended his contract to 30 June 2027, and the Croatian Football Federation has confirmed he remains available for the Croatia national team despite retirement speculation. The club’s official statement of 23 July 2026 settled the immediate question about his club future.
At 40, with his 41st birthday arriving in September 2026, Modrić has now played in five World Cups and continues to appear in Milan’s plans. Coverage of his extension described the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner as putting retirement on hold while he weighs the remainder of a remarkable career.
The latest sourced updates leave little room for doubt: he plays for Milan until at least the summer of 2027, and he remains part of Croatia’s international setup. What stays open is the longer timeline, and exactly when one of the most decorated midfielders of his generation will finally step away.
When Will Luka Modric Retire?
No official retirement date has been announced. The clearest signals come from his current contract and from Croatia’s football federation, which has confirmed the midfielder remains available for the national team. ESPN coverage described him as not thinking about retirement and trying to stay present.
Key Insights
- No official retirement date has been announced by Modric, AC Milan, or the Croatian federation.
- His club contract runs until 30 June 2027.
- Croatia’s federation has confirmed he remains available for selection.
- Media reports about a Croatia farewell have not been officially confirmed.
- He returned from a fifth World Cup before extending with Milan.
- AC Milan coach Ruben Amorim has said Modric can still positively impact games at 41.
Key Facts
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Luka Modrić |
| Date of Birth | September 9, 1985 |
| Place of Birth | Zadar, Croatia |
| Position | Midfielder / playmaker |
| Current Club | AC Milan |
| International Team | Croatia |
| Major Individual Award | Ballon d’Or 2018 |
| FIFA World Cup | Runner-up 2018, third place 2022 |
| Jersey Number (AC Milan) | 14 |
| AC Milan Contract | Until 30 June 2027 |
What Is Luka Modric’s Current Club Situation?
Which club does Luka Modric play for now?
He plays for AC Milan in Serie A. Modric left Real Madrid in 2025 after the Club World Cup, ending a spell in which he had won nearly 30 titles and made close to 600 appearances for the club. Reuters described the departure as the close of a hugely decorated chapter before he moved to Italy.
What is Luka Modric’s contract with AC Milan?
The club announced on 23 July 2026 that Modric had signed a contract running until 30 June 2027. The same announcement confirmed that he will continue wearing the No. 14 shirt.
Did Luka Modric extend his AC Milan contract?
Yes. Some coverage framed the agreement as an option being exercised or as a one-year extension, but the official club statement is the clearest source: the contract ends on 30 June 2027. Goal’s reporting also addressed his international status, noting that the retirement question had not been settled in the same way.
AC Milan’s official announcement of 23 July 2026 is the authoritative confirmation of the contract’s end date. Descriptions of an option or a one-year extension come from secondary reporting and differ from the club’s statement.
What Is Luka Modric’s Jersey Number and How Do You Get It?
What number does Luka Modric wear at AC Milan?
Milan confirmed that Modric will continue wearing No. 14. The confirmation came in the same official statement that announced his contract extension.
Where can I buy a Luka Modric jersey?
Modric shirts are available through AC Milan and Croatia national team outlets. The market for his jerseys remains strong across both, according to coverage of his ongoing career.
Squad numbers are not permanent across seasons. No. 14 was confirmed by AC Milan for the contract period announced in July 2026.
What Are Luka Modric’s Career Stats and Achievements?
Has Luka Modric won the Ballon d’Or?
Yes. He won the Ballon d’Or in 2018. The award carried added significance because it interrupted a period of dominance by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
What trophies has Luka Modric won?
The most complete picture comes from his Real Madrid years. Reports cite six Champions League titles, four La Liga titles, and five UEFA Super Cups, along with the 2018 Ballon d’Or. Fox Sports pointed to the same figures in coverage of his Croatia decision and Milan extension. With Croatia, he finished as a World Cup runner-up in 2018 and took third place in 2022.
Why is Luka Modric called the Puppet Master?
The nickname describes his passing, vision, and ability to control the tempo of a match from midfield. It was used heavily in coverage around the 2018 World Cup and has stayed with him as his career has lengthened.
Some profiles list five Champions League titles for his Real Madrid career, while Reuters and Fox Sports both cite six. Recent detailed coverage consistently references the six-title figure.
How Did Luka Modric’s Career Develop Over Time?
- 1985–2003: Born in Zadar, he began his youth career at NK Zadar and later joined the Dinamo Zagreb academy.
- 2003–2008: He debuted for Dinamo Zagreb, won multiple Croatian league titles, and spent time on loan at Zrinjski Mostar and Inter Zaprešić.
- 2008–2012: Tottenham Hotspur signed him, and he became one of the Premier League’s most respected playmakers.
- 2012–2024: At Real Madrid, he won six Champions League titles, four La Liga titles, and the 2018 Ballon d’Or, with coverage also citing five UEFA Super Cups.
- 2025: He left Real Madrid after the Club World Cup and signed with AC Milan.
- 2025–2026: At 40, he confirmed his availability for Croatia’s Nations League campaign and extended his Milan contract to 30 June 2027.
BBC Sport reported the contract extension and confirmed the same end date, while retirement talk continued around his international career.
What Is Officially Confirmed and What Still Remains Unclear?
Some parts of Modric’s situation are firmly established, while others rely on media reports. The distinction matters because retirement stories moved quickly in 2026. World Soccer Talk reported that he had decided to retire from Croatia while extending his Milan contract. Later federation updates indicated he remains available.
| Established | Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| Modric plays for AC Milan, with a contract until 30 June 2027 | An official retirement date has not been announced |
| He won the Ballon d’Or in 2018 | The exact salary and full terms of his Milan contract are not public |
| Croatia’s federation confirmed his availability for the national team | Whether he will continue after the 2026 World Cup is not confirmed |
| He has played at five World Cups | Whether he will extend again after June 2027 is unknown |
Why Does Luka Modric’s Career Carry So Much Weight?
Modric’s game has changed shape over time. He developed from a box-to-box midfielder into a deeper playmaker, relying more on positioning and passing than on sustained sprints. That shift helps explain why he has stayed effective into his early 40s.
The 2018 Ballon d’Or was more than a personal honor. It ended a decade of control by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and recognized a midfielder whose influence was built on timing and tempo rather than goals.
His Croatia career has reinforced the legacy. Coverage around the Nations League continues to describe him as a key player and captain. The Hans India reported that he ended retirement speculation by confirming his participation in the competition. The way modern midfielders are evaluated also keeps evolving; profiles such as Alexis Mac Allister – Height, Age, Wife, and Career Stats 2025 show how club form, international role, and personal background are combined in current player assessments.
What Have Coaches and Modric Said About His Future?
Those closest to the situation have offered a clear picture, even though no retirement date has been set.
Luka Modric can still positively impact games at his age.
Ruben Amorim, AC Milan coach, via ESPN
I needed to listen to my body.
Luka Modrić, on his contract extension with AC Milan, via Goal
The Croatian federation’s position has been consistent: Modric remains available for the national team. NDTV Sports summarized the situation in September 2026 with the headline “Luka Modric to Continue Croatia Career at 40, Confirms Availability for UEFA Nations League.”
What Comes Next for Luka Modric?
Modric’s immediate future is set: AC Milan until the summer of 2027, and Croatia duty in the international windows ahead. No retirement date has been announced, and no official source has suggested that the current season will be his last. The next milestones will come from club lineups and federation squad announcements. For another look at a player whose contract and transfer status shaped a season, Alphonso Davies 2025: Transfer News, Salary, Stats & Wife (Updated) covers a similar story from 2025.
What Are the Most Common Questions About Luka Modric?
How old is Luka Modric?
Luka Modric was born on September 9, 1985. He was 40 when he signed his AC Milan extension in July 2026 and turned 41 in September 2026.
What position does Luka Modric play?
He is a central midfielder and playmaker. His passing, vision, and control of tempo have defined his role at AC Milan and with Croatia.
Is Luka Modric in the Croatia squad for the Nations League?
The Croatian Football Federation confirmed he remains available for the national team. Coverage around September 2026 identified him as part of the Nations League picture.
How many World Cups has Luka Modric played in?
Coverage notes that he returned from his fifth World Cup before extending his contract with AC Milan in 2026.
Where was Luka Modric born?
He was born in Zadar, Croatia, on September 9, 1985.
Has Luka Modric won the Champions League?
Yes. Reports cite six Champions League titles won during his time at Real Madrid.
What is Luka Modric’s role in the Croatia national team?
He is described in coverage as a key player and captain, particularly in reporting around the Nations League and recent World Cup campaigns.
Oliver Reeves leads fact-checking and editorial standards at BritView.uk.