Croatia, a nation of approximately 4 million residents, consistently surprises the football world by producing exceptional talent, notably Luka Modric, one of history's greatest midfielders. At 40, Modric has been named to Croatia’s 2026 World Cup squad, a milestone he views as his final World Cup, targeting 200 international appearances, which would further elevate his already remarkable legacy.
Modric's place on the roster was uncertain due to a fractured cheekbone sustained in April. Notably, a younger player would likely face a longer recovery, yet Modric’s determination saw him return in time to participate, marking his fifth World Cup.
The 2026 tournament begins for Croatia with a match against England on June 17, a high-stakes rematch of the 2018 semifinal that Croatia won. Modric's stellar performance in 2018 earned him the Ballon d'Or, breaking the long-standing dominance of Messi and Ronaldo in individual accolades. Additionally, Croatia achieved a commendable third place in the recent 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
As Modric prepares for his final stint on the global stage, he also ventures into the digital currency landscape. Recently appointed as a global brand ambassador for CoinW, a cryptocurrency trading platform, he joined forces with them to promote a World Trading Championship aligned with the World Cup. Using Modric's image, CoinW aims to bridge the realms of football fandom and cryptocurrency trading.
Moreover, Modric is associated with fan tokens on the Solana blockchain. These MODRIC tokens, while possessing a market cap between $100K and $107K, demonstrate modest trading activity compared to more established team-based tokens like those available for major clubs such as Barcelona and PSG. The inherent loyalty to clubs often surpasses that of individual players. As Modric embarks on this dual path of football and crypto, enthusiasts will be watching closely how this fusion unfolds as he chases history on the pitch.