Luka Modric, at 40 years old, has become the oldest player to record an assist in World Cup history. The Croatian captain, playing in his fifth World Cup, added yet another milestone to a career that refuses to end quietly.
Born on September 9, 1985, Modric is doing things on the pitch that most players his age can only do on a PlayStation. While his contemporaries have long since retired to punditry desks and Instagram lifestyle content, the midfielder is still threading passes at the highest level of international football.
A career that keeps defying the calendar
His first tournament appearance came back in 2006. Since then, he’s been a fixture at every World Cup: 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022, and now 2026.
The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is widely expected to be Modric’s final chapter in international football.
