"I did not have to persuade him," Slaven Bilic said of Luka Modric's latest Croatia call-up. At 41 years old, with 202 caps already banked, persuasion was never the issue. The man simply doesn't stop.
Bilic named Modric in his squad on Monday for the 2026-27 Nations League cycle, meaning the veteran midfielder will earn cap number 203 when Croatia opens Group A against Czech Republic on September 26. A group that also contains world champion Spain and England — not exactly a gentle send-off for a player this deep into his career.
The numbers that put it in context
Only Cristiano Ronaldo — with 233 caps — has played more international football. Lionel Messi, who announced his retirement from Argentina duty just last week, finished with 207. Modric is sitting at 202 and still going. That's not a sentimental last waltz; that's a genuine place among the most capped players in football history.
He signed a fresh one-year deal with AC Milan in July, returning from a World Cup where he started all four of Croatia's games at age 40 — including 109 minutes against Portugal in a 2-1 round-of-32 loss that ended with a disallowed goal. The 2018 Ballon d'Or winner was still on the pitch deep into extra time when Croatia's tournament was essentially stolen from them. That's context worth remembering when people talk about him winding down.
Bilic manages expectations carefully
The coach has been clear that Modric won't be played into the ground. "He will play at a pace that suits both him and us, similar to his rhythm at Milan," Bilic said. "We have to respect that, and it will be the best for everyone."
That's a sensible approach — and it also signals Croatia won't be leaning on him as a week-in, week-out starter across a Nations League block running September to November. Which makes Croatia's odds in what is a genuinely difficult group harder to read. They have the quality in behind, but this is a side that has always been built around Modric's tempo control. How much they get of that version of him matters.
Spain will be the betting market favourite in this group. Deservedly. But Croatia with even a half-fit, half-involved Modric is a different proposition than Croatia without him entirely.
