Croatia were eliminated from the 2022 World Cup by Argentina in the semi-finals. The 2018 finalists were defeated 3-0, in what was Luka Modric’s last game at the grandest stage of all.
The midfielder was subbed off so that he could have a moment of applause for all that he has done. And he kept it brief, saving time for his side to try and salvage a goal.
Luka Modric exits World Cup as one of the best
The Real Madrid veteran still plays like he is in his 20s, despite being 37 years old. And he has led Croatia to unprecedented heights in international football. Last year, he won the Golden Ball as his country came up short in the finals against France.
This year, he had a chance to make it through to the finals and set up another meeting with Les Blues. But, Lionel Messi’s Argentina were too good on the day, and overcame them with relative ease.
In two years, Croatia have been the finalists and the semifinalists at the tournament. Luka Modric has earned 161 caps for the national team, scoring 23 goals since making his debut in 2006. Whether or not this was his final international tournament is still uncertain.
But one thing that is for sure is that he won’t be a part of the squad heading to North America for the 2026 World Cup. And now, it remains to be seen how the iconic midfielder plays out the rest of his career for Real Madrid and the national team.
