Marca’s midnight bomb: Modrić wants to stay at Real for another year and take Croatia to the World Cup

Luka Modrić (39) still plays football at the highest possible level in the years when his rivals are older. have finished their career or are playing in exotic destinations far from Europe. The captain of the Croatian national team is currently with the “fire” in Maksimir and is preparing for the match with Scotland which is scheduled for Saturday at 6 p.m.

It will be his 181st appearance in the checkered jersey, and many believe that the League of Nations could be his last competition in which he will play for the national team. However, as Radio Marca found out in an announcement late on Wednesday, Modrić he has other plans. Namely, the captain wants to extend his contract with Real until 2026 in order to be ready for the World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada.

He will turn 40 next season, and during the World Cup he will be approaching 41. If he really performs at the World Cup, he will be among the five oldest players who have ever played in that competition. However, it will be far from the first place, which is held by the Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El Hadary.

– I’m still here, just as motivated as before. As always, I am most proud to play for Croatia. I think I can help, I’m here for anything. The World Cup in 2026 is far away, I don’t know what will happen until then. I don’t want to plan anything, even if I don’t know how realistic it is for me from the current perspective. At the moment, my goal is to do the League of Nations as well as possible and continue to listen to my body – said Modrić the last time he commented on a possible retirement.

Although his minutes have decreased somewhat in the last two years, Modrić is still one of the most important players of the team and a true example of the talented midfield of the “Kings”, so it would not be surprising if the club extended his contract for another year, just like this summer.