Modric World Cup 2026 Fitness Backed By Dalic As Croatia Captain Targets Late-season Recovery

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic expects Luka Modric to recover from facial surgery in time for this summer’s World Cup, despite Milan confirming a serious injury. Modric suffered a fractured left cheekbone against Juventus, raising doubts over a possible fifth appearance at football’s biggest tournament.

Dalic remains calm about Modric’s fitness timeline, even though Milan has ruled the midfielder out for the rest of the Serie A campaign. The coach says medical plans are clear and recovery is already organised, with Croatia still seeing Modric as a central figure for the national team.

Milan reported that Modric sustained a "complex, multi-fragment fracture of the left zygomatic bone" after a clash of heads with Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli

on Sunday. The club stated that surgery on the 40-year-old’s face was successful, but confirmed Modric would not feature again in this domestic season.

"I've been talking to Luka and wished him a successful surgery and a quality and speedy recovery," said Dalic.

Last Friday, Luka Modri received his Croatian Football of the Year award from the Croatian FA! A huge honour and we are so proud of him @HNS_CFF pic.twitter.com/7eh91yzAoTAC Milan (@acmilan) April 20, 2026

Modric joined Milan on a free transfer from Real Madrid last summer and has since played 36 matches, scoring two goals and registering three assists. The Croatian Football of the Year recently received another honour from the Croatian FA, underlining Modric’s continued influence at both club and international level.

The midfielder has already made 19 appearances at World Cup finals, starting from 2006, and captained Croatia to runners-up in 2018 and third place in 2022. All three direct goal contributions, two goals and one assist, came during the 2018 tournament, when Croatia lost to France in the final.

Croatia will open their World Cup campaign against England on 17 June, before facing Panama and Ghana in Group L. The tournament will take place across the United States, Canada and Mexico, placing Modric on course for a fifth World Cup if recovery stays on schedule.

"I am convinced that he will do everything to be ready for the World Cup, and we'll provide full support. I am confident that the recovery will go according to plan and that Luka, as team captain, will lead us at another major competition this summer. "