Modrić's Final Chapter: Can Croatia Defy the Odds One More Time?
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16 Oct 2026Modrić's Final Chapter: Can Croatia Defy the Odds One More Time?
Luka Modrić’s last dance is set to begin in the USA. Croatia open World Cup 2026 in Group L against England at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, with the veteran midfielder again at the heart of it. He arrives as a 173 cm, both‑footed metronome, wearing No. 14 and bringing a World Cup résumé that already holds silver from 2018 and bronze from 2022. The question is simple enough for a player who thrives on complex things: can he guide Croatia to another medal run?
Two World Cup medals already in the bag
Croatia’s recent history with Modrić is elite tournament consistency. In 2018 they finished runners‑up after a 4‑2 loss to France, then followed it with third place in 2022 by beating Morocco 2‑1. Across those two editions he played 14 matches, handled extra time three times in 2018 and twice in 2022, and calmly survived four penalty shootouts. That list includes Denmark and Russia in 2018, plus Japan and Brazil in 2022. The pathway is familiar, and it tends to involve nerves of steel.
The numbers behind it support the story. Modrić’s highest Sofascore Rating at World Cups came in the 2018 quarterfinal against Russia at 8.4, with 8.0 performances against Denmark and Argentina in the same tournament. His 2022 run brought steady 7.7 displays against both Belgium and Brazil. The lowest dip in this data set is a 6.5 vs Mexico in 2014, which underlines how rarely he drops below a solid level on the biggest stage. Add it up and he enters 2026 as a proven tournament driver, not a passenger.
2018 run: peak influence and marathon nights
Russia 2018 reads like a playlist of Modrić masterclasses. Croatia beat Nigeria 2‑0, with Modrić scoring, and then stunned Argentina 3‑0, where he again found the net and posted an 8.0 Sofascore Rating. He featured for 65 minutes in the 2‑1 win over Iceland to top the group. From there it was all endurance and control.
Croatia went 120 minutes against Denmark and again versus Russia, winning both in shootouts. Modrić rated 8.0 in the round of 16 and 8.4 in the quarters, then played 119 minutes to beat England 2‑1 in the semifinal. The final ended 4‑2 for France, but his individual level held with a 7.2. Across seven matches the average Sofascore Rating comes to roughly 7.6, the best tournament average in this data set for him. At 32 then, and a central midfielder by trade, he showed the engine of a full‑back and the brain of a playmaker.
Qatar 2022: control, resilience and bronze
Four years later the tone shifted to game management. Croatia drew 0‑0 with Morocco, beat Canada 4‑1 with a Modrić goal, and closed the group with another 0‑0 against Belgium. Ratings of 7.1, 7.4 and 7.7 in those matches signaled rhythm rather than chaos. The knockout path again required full composure.
Croatia outlasted Japan after 99 minutes and penalties, then held Brazil for 120 minutes before winning another shootout. Modrić posted 7.7 against Brazil and 6.9 in the tense Japan match. Argentina proved too strong in the semifinal, but he still logged a 7.6 in 81 minutes. The third‑place match brought a 2‑1 win over Morocco and a 7.3. His 2022 average sits around 7.4, a picture of consistency that ended with a bronze medal.
Early pages: 2006 and 2014 shaped the veteran
Modrić’s World Cup story started in 2006 with short cameos. He played 12 minutes against Japan and 16 against Australia in a group that finished with two draws for Croatia. The Sofascore Ratings of 7.1 and 6.8 hinted at composure even in limited time. Those minutes were small, but the learning curve was steep.
By 2014 he was a full‑timer. Croatia beat Cameroon 4‑0, lost 3‑1 to Mexico and fell 3‑1 to Brazil. Modrić’s ratings were 7.0 against Cameroon, 6.5 versus Mexico and 7.2 against Brazil. The exit stung, but those matches reinforced his tempo‑setting role. From there the growth into 2018 and 2022 was obvious.
2026 snapshot: England first, Arlington stage
World Cup 2026 opens for Croatia with England at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The event is listed as Group L and currently sits in a not started state, with Thomas Tuchel shown as England’s head coach and Zlatko Dalić leading Croatia. Modrić enters as a central or defensive midfielder, right at home dictating play in either role. The stakes are clear, and the venue is vast with a listed capacity of 80,000.
He is now 40, based on his 1985‑09‑09 birth date, and plays club football for AC Milan. The toolkit remains the same: two‑footed control, timing in the press and the pass that lifts a team 30 meters up the pitch. His World Cup totals in this data reach 19 matches across four editions, with three goals against Nigeria and Argentina in 2018 and Canada in 2022. The penalty‑shootout ledger sits at four wins while he was on the pitch. If there is one indicator to watch again, it is his Sofascore Rating, which has often hovered in the 7s through long knockout nights.
So, can he repeat the medal trick with Croatia one more time? The record shown here says he knows the route, whether it is fireworks in a 3‑0 over Argentina or a 120‑minute grind that ends from the spot. England first, then the rest of Group L, and then we see how far the rhythm goes. Follow Croatia and Modrić on Sofascore for live match momentum and every Sofascore Rating from Arlington onward.
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16 Oct 2026
Luka Modrić’s last dance is set to begin in the USA. Croatia open World Cup 2026 in Group L against England at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, with the veteran midfielder again at the heart of it. He arrives as a 173 cm, both‑footed metronome, wearing No. 14 and bringing a World Cup résumé that already holds silver from 2018 and bronze from 2022. The question is simple enough for a player who thrives on complex things: can he guide Croatia to another medal run?
Two World Cup medals already in the bag
Croatia’s recent history with Modrić is elite tournament consistency. In 2018 they finished runners‑up after a 4‑2 loss to France, then followed it with third place in 2022 by beating Morocco 2‑1. Across those two editions he played 14 matches, handled extra time three times in 2018 and twice in 2022, and calmly survived four penalty shootouts. That list includes Denmark and Russia in 2018, plus Japan and Brazil in 2022. The pathway is familiar, and it tends to involve nerves of steel.
The numbers behind it support the story. Modrić’s highest Sofascore Rating at World Cups came in the 2018 quarterfinal against Russia at 8.4, with 8.0 performances against Denmark and Argentina in the same tournament. His 2022 run brought steady 7.7 displays against both Belgium and Brazil. The lowest dip in this data set is a 6.5 vs Mexico in 2014, which underlines how rarely he drops below a solid level on the biggest stage. Add it up and he enters 2026 as a proven tournament driver, not a passenger.
2018 run: peak influence and marathon nights
Russia 2018 reads like a playlist of Modrić masterclasses. Croatia beat Nigeria 2‑0, with Modrić scoring, and then stunned Argentina 3‑0, where he again found the net and posted an 8.0 Sofascore Rating. He featured for 65 minutes in the 2‑1 win over Iceland to top the group. From there it was all endurance and control.
Croatia went 120 minutes against Denmark and again versus Russia, winning both in shootouts. Modrić rated 8.0 in the round of 16 and 8.4 in the quarters, then played 119 minutes to beat England 2‑1 in the semifinal. The final ended 4‑2 for France, but his individual level held with a 7.2. Across seven matches the average Sofascore Rating comes to roughly 7.6, the best tournament average in this data set for him. At 32 then, and a central midfielder by trade, he showed the engine of a full‑back and the brain of a playmaker.
Qatar 2022: control, resilience and bronze
Four years later the tone shifted to game management. Croatia drew 0‑0 with Morocco, beat Canada 4‑1 with a Modrić goal, and closed the group with another 0‑0 against Belgium. Ratings of 7.1, 7.4 and 7.7 in those matches signaled rhythm rather than chaos. The knockout path again required full composure.
Croatia outlasted Japan after 99 minutes and penalties, then held Brazil for 120 minutes before winning another shootout. Modrić posted 7.7 against Brazil and 6.9 in the tense Japan match. Argentina proved too strong in the semifinal, but he still logged a 7.6 in 81 minutes. The third‑place match brought a 2‑1 win over Morocco and a 7.3. His 2022 average sits around 7.4, a picture of consistency that ended with a bronze medal.
Early pages: 2006 and 2014 shaped the veteran
Modrić’s World Cup story started in 2006 with short cameos. He played 12 minutes against Japan and 16 against Australia in a group that finished with two draws for Croatia. The Sofascore Ratings of 7.1 and 6.8 hinted at composure even in limited time. Those minutes were small, but the learning curve was steep.
By 2014 he was a full‑timer. Croatia beat Cameroon 4‑0, lost 3‑1 to Mexico and fell 3‑1 to Brazil. Modrić’s ratings were 7.0 against Cameroon, 6.5 versus Mexico and 7.2 against Brazil. The exit stung, but those matches reinforced his tempo‑setting role. From there the growth into 2018 and 2022 was obvious.
2026 snapshot: England first, Arlington stage
World Cup 2026 opens for Croatia with England at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The event is listed as Group L and currently sits in a not started state, with Thomas Tuchel shown as England’s head coach and Zlatko Dalić leading Croatia. Modrić enters as a central or defensive midfielder, right at home dictating play in either role. The stakes are clear, and the venue is vast with a listed capacity of 80,000.
He is now 40, based on his 1985‑09‑09 birth date, and plays club football for AC Milan. The toolkit remains the same: two‑footed control, timing in the press and the pass that lifts a team 30 meters up the pitch. His World Cup totals in this data reach 19 matches across four editions, with three goals against Nigeria and Argentina in 2018 and Canada in 2022. The penalty‑shootout ledger sits at four wins while he was on the pitch. If there is one indicator to watch again, it is his Sofascore Rating, which has often hovered in the 7s through long knockout nights.
So, can he repeat the medal trick with Croatia one more time? The record shown here says he knows the route, whether it is fireworks in a 3‑0 over Argentina or a 120‑minute grind that ends from the spot. England first, then the rest of Group L, and then we see how far the rhythm goes. Follow Croatia and Modrić on Sofascore for live match momentum and every Sofascore Rating from Arlington onward.