Luka Modric’s legendary playing career could reach its final chapter this summer, with the 40-year-old Croatian midfielder reportedly leaning toward retirement following the 2026 World Cup — despite holding an option to stay at AC Milan for another season.
According to reports out of Spain, Modric is increasingly expected to hang up his boots after this summer’s tournament. AS claims the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner has already begun preparing for life after football, with former club Real Madrid ready to offer him a director’s role once he calls it quits.
If this is indeed the end, it would mark a stunning conclusion to a career that has defied Father Time at every turn.
Still Going Strong at 41
Modric turned 41 in September, but you wouldn’t know it from watching him this season. Under Massimiliano Allegri, he started 32 of Milan’s first 34 Serie A matches before a fractured cheekbone sidelined him in May. Age, it seems, really is just a number — but even the most timeless careers eventually face a final whistle.
The veteran midfielder joined Milan on a free transfer at the start of the 2024-25 season, signing a one-year deal with a club option for an additional 12 months. That option remains on the table, but multiple factors are now working against its activation.
Chaos in the Front Office
Milan’s uncertain future is complicating matters. The Rossoneri currently have no head coach, no sporting director, no technical director, and no CEO. With Champions League qualification still in doubt, the idea of staying on in a season without Europe’s top competition doesn’t exactly scream appeal for a player of Modric’s stature.
Fans online have pointed to a recent Instagram post from Modric as a telling sign. The midfielder wrote: “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.”
The post didn’t confirm anything outright, but the tone struck many as a farewell.
Real Madrid Waiting in the Wings
Should Modric retire this summer, he won’t be out of work for long. Reports have long suggested that Real Madrid — where he spent a decade and won five Champions League titles — has a front-office role ready for him. If that offer materializes, it could make the decision a whole lot easier.
For now, Modric’s focus remains on the World Cup. Croatia isn’t expected to contend for the title, but with a player of his class on the pitch, anything is possible. And after that? It may finally be time for soccer to say goodbye to one of its smoothest operators.
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