Recent reports indicate that Luka Modric is increasingly inclined to conclude his playing career after the 2026 World Cup. This comes despite having the option to extend his contract with AC Milan for an additional year.
Modric’s Future: Retirement Post-World Cup Likely
Modric, who will celebrate his 41st birthday in September, demonstrated his enduring quality during his first season in Serie A in 2025-26. He established himself as a pivotal player under Massimiliano Allegri, featuring in 32 of the first 34 league matches before sustaining a fractured cheekbone in May.
The 2018 Ballon d’Or winner joined Milan on a free transfer at the start of the 2024-25 season, signing an initial one-year contract with a further 12-month extension option. However, the likelihood of him remaining with Milan, especially without Champions League football and amidst uncertainty regarding the club’s leadership (no head coach, sporting director, technical director, or CEO currently in place), appears slim.
According to Spanish outlet AS, Modric is now more likely than not to announce his retirement from professional football after the 2026 World Cup. It has been previously reported that a directorial role at his former club, Real Madrid, could be offered to him should he decide to retire this summer.
Modric himself has offered hints about his potential departure from Milan through a recent social media post that suggested a farewell. He wrote on Instagram, “A season with beautiful moments and difficult moments, but at the end we have to face the harsh reality and admit that it didn’t end as we wanted. I’d like to thank from the bottom of my heart all the Milan supporters for the love, respect and amazing support they’ve shown me during the whole season. Forza Milan.”
