Luka Modric has opened up about his retirement plans as the 39-year-old midfield legend prepares to enter contract negotiations with Real Madrid.
Modric, already the club’s oldest goalscorer and most senior appearance maker, remains hungry for more success and is eager to extend his career through the 2025/26 season. His ultimate goal? Leading Croatia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Despite lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia and Major League Soccer (MLS), reports suggest that Modric is keen to remain at Madrid, even if it requires another salary reduction. According to Fabrizio Romano, contract renewal talks between Modric’s representatives and Madrid are set to begin soon, with the Croatian prioritizing top-level European football to maintain peak form ahead of the World Cup.
“Right now, I’m not thinking about retirement. But as I’ve always said – I would like to retire at Real Madrid, that would be a dream for me. We’ll see what happens,” Modric told Telefoot.
For now, his focus shifts to international duty, as he captains Croatia in their UEFA Nations League quarter-final second leg against France. Croatia holds a 2-0 advantage, and Modric’s leadership will be crucial in securing a spot in the next round.
