Overview
Luka Modrić broke the ten-year Messi–Ronaldo hold on the Ballon d'Or in 2018, after captaining Croatia to the World Cup final and winning a third consecutive Champions League with Real Madrid. He is Croatia's most-capped player by a wide margin.
Born in wartime Croatia — his grandfather was killed and his family displaced — he was told as a teenager that he was too slight for professional football. He won six European Cups across thirteen seasons in Madrid and joined AC Milan in 2025.
Clubs
International record: 190 caps and 27 goals for Croatia.
Dinamo Zagreb2003–2008
Tottenham Hotspur2008–2012
Real Madrid2012–2025
AC Milan2025–
Honours
Major team and individual honours.
Ballon d'Or 2018
UEFA Champions League ×6
La Liga ×4
World Cup Golden Ball 2018
World Cup Appearances
Luka Modrić appeared at five FIFA World Cups.
20062014201820222026
The 2026 tournament, hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, was won by Spain. See the FIFA World Cup 2026 page.
Other Croatia Internationals
Other players profiled for this national team.