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Modric determined to help AC Milan return to Champions League after extending contract
Luka Modric shows no signs of slowing down at 40 years old, having penned a new one-year deal with AC Milan. The post Modric determined to help AC Milan return to Champions League after extending contract appeared first on SoccerNews.
Luka Modric could break Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s record as AC Milan’s oldest player after contract renewal
With AC Milan announcing the renewal of Luka Modric, the Croatian legend could break Zlatan Ibrahimovic's record as the oldest player to feature for the Rossoneri. Luka Modric will remain on the pitch for at least one more season as AC Milan officially confirmed a one-year contract extension with the Croatian playmaker through June 2027. With another campaign on the horizon at San Siro, Modric is positioned to break Zlatan Ibrahimovic‘s long-standing record as the oldest player in Rossoneri history. Following days of optimism surrounding a new deal, AC Milan issued an official statement on July 23 confirming the agreement. “A key figure in the Rossoneri midfield since his arrival, Luka has brought his experience and quality to the service of the team, both on and off the pitch, with humility and great passion,” the club noted. After a decorated decade with Real Madrid, Modric made the move to Milan ahead of the 2025-26 season on an initial one-year deal through the 2026 World Cup. Having recently retired from international duty following Croatia’s World Cup run, the veteran midfielder chose to extend his club career at San Siro, a decision inspired by his childhood admiration for club icon Zvonimir Boban. His debut season in Milan proved challenging from a team perspective, as the Rossoneri finished fifth in Serie A to miss out on Champions League qualification, leading to an offseason coaching change that saw Rúben Amorim replace Massimiliano Allegri. “Ci vediamo presto" 🔜Parola di Luka Modrić pic.twitter.com/IybmopjSyg— AC Milan (@acmilan) July 23, 2026 Despite the team’s struggles, Modric remained a reliable engine in the midfield, making 37 appearances while recording two goals and three assists. His new deal retains his financial terms from last season: a €3.5 million base salary with bonuses pushing the total package to €4.5 million. Chasing Ibrahimovic’s longevity record The tactical pace of Serie A has offered a fitting environment for Modric to maximize his vision and game management late in his career. A central figure under Allegri at age 40, he is expected to serve as the brain in midfield under Amorim. Zlatan Ibrahimovic currently holds the title of the oldest player ever to feature in a competitive match for AC Milan. The Swedish striker set the benchmark during a Serie A fixture against Udinese in March 2023, taking the pitch at 41 years, five months, and 15 days old. Modric, who turns 41 in September 2026, will eclipse Ibrahimović’s mark if he features in the second half of the 2026-27 campaign. Should he play through the season’s conclusion in May 2027, the Croatian legend would push the club’s record to 41 years and eight months old.
Pandur's arrival 'perfect timing' as Rangers add set-piece coach
Ivor Pandur cannot wait to get started at Rangers and the Croatian goalkeeper believes he has arrived at the "perfect time" in his quest for silverware. The 26-year-old was signed from Hull City at the end of June but has just arrived in Glasgow this week after representing his country at the World Cup. Pandur, who has yet to earn a full international cap, agreed a four-year contract, having helped Hull win promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs.
Report: Luka Modric has decided to retire from Croatia, but extend his contract with AC Milan
Despite entering as one of the favorites, Croatia were eliminated from the 2026 World Cup in the Round of 16. Following this, Luka Modrić has reportedly decided to retire from the national team. However, he appears set to continue his professional career for one more season with AC Milan. Croatia have been one of the most impressive national teams in recent years, reaching a World Cup final and finishing third at Qatar 2022. However, they were eliminated in the Round of 16 of the 2026 edition. Following this, Luka Modrić has reportedly decided to retire from the national team, bringing a golden era to an end. In addition, he appears determined to extend his contract with AC Milan. According to Andrea Ramazzotti, via La Gazzetta dello Sport, Luka Modrić has decided to end his international career with Croatia. He has decided to announce it at the beginning of October 2026, after the match against Spain in the UEFA Nations League. With this, he establishes as one of the greatest legends of the national team, writing his name alongside Davor Šuker and Zvonimir Boban. Despite his international retirement, Modrić has reached an agreement to extend his contract with AC Milan for one more season, joining the club’s tour in Australia, reports Andrea Ramazzotti. With this, Ruben Amorim keeps the central figure of his midfield, as he had already expressed his desire to continue working with him. However, the head coach has already made it clear that he may not play every match. Luka Modrić has proven to be a truly outstanding player at 41 years old. At the 2026 World Cup, he started all four matches Croatia played. Not only was he key in his national team’s two victories, but he also provided an assist. Despite his age, he remains in excellent physical condition, making his presence at AC Milan a guaranteed reinforcement for the 2026-27 season in the rebuild of the roster. Luka Modric of AC Milan. Modric may be key to unlocking Ricci and Jashari at AC Milan Luka Modrić was a key figure for AC Milan in the most recent season. Under Massimiliano Allegri, he played 2,864 minutes across 37 matches. As a result, he was the team’s oldest player to record the most minutes played. Amid the reconstruction under Ruben Amorim, the Croatian veteran could be key to helping develop Samuele Ricci and Ardon Jashari at the Rossoneri. During the 2025-26 season, Samuele Ricci and Ardon Jashari had very little prominence, as they raised serious doubts in several aspects of their game. With this in mind, Luka Modrić can serve as a mentor to both players, helping provide them with more tools to make a greater impact. In addition, they would once again have the opportunity to gradually take on more responsibility, allowing for a slow transition.
Report: Yamal’s Spain and Messi’s Argentina set for November Finalissima in a 2026 World Cup final rematch
According to reports, Spain and Argentina could face off in November for the Finalissima, following the Europeans' victory in the 2026 World Cup final. Just days after Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra time to win the 2026 World Cup, courtesy of a Ferran Torres goal in the 106th minute, the two sides could be headed for a rematch before the year is out. According to a report from Argentina’s ESPN and DSports, the long-postponed Finalissima between the reigning Copa America and European champions is being revived for later this year. The Finalissima was originally slated to be played in March, pitting Copa America winners Argentina against Euro 2024 champions Spain, but the match was suspended amid the escalating conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel in the Middle East. With broadcast and commercial contracts already signed with the Qatari government for a fixture at Lusail Stadium in Doha, both CONMEBOL and UEFA have kept the door open to staging the game before it expires. CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez and UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin are reportedly in talks to find a workable date on the calendar, with two FIFA windows under consideration: September 21 to October 6, or November 9 to 17. Lamine Yamal lifts the World Cup trophy. (Getty Images) A rematch would give both Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal another shot at facing off just months after their World Cup final meeting, this time with the Finalissima trophy on the line, a title Argentina already won in 2022 by thrashing Italy 3-0. The match could also serve as a potential farewell for Messi in an Argentina shirt, in case he hasn’t already played his last game at MetLife Stadium during the World Cup final, as he has yet to say whether the final was his last game with the national team. Spain’s potential scheduling conflict Playing the Finalissima this year isn’t without its complications, particularly for Spain. Between September, October and November, La Roja are already committed to UEFA Nations League fixtures against England, Croatia and Czechia, leaving little obvious room on the calendar for an extra match. Since the Nations League is a UEFA-run competition, though, the confederation could still rework Spain’s fixture schedule to carve out a window for the Finalissima. Argentina, for its part, is set to return to action between September 21 and October 6 for its next FIFA window, when it could play up to four matches.
List of World Cup Golden Ball winners: Every tournament MVP in soccer history
The list of players who received the Golden Ball as the best player of the competition. While the main goal for every player at the World Cup is to lift the trophy, individual awards also carry great prestige because the tournament features the best players in the world. The Golden Ball is awarded to the best player of the tournament, with the winner voted by media representatives from a shortlist selected by FIFA’s Technical Study Group. The list of winners features a remarkable group of players, even if some all-time greats such as Pelé never received the award. That had nothing to do with his performances, as the Golden Ball was only introduced in 1982. Unlike most individual awards, the players finishing second and third in the voting also receive the Silver Ball and Bronze Ball, respectively. The award has been won by some of the greatest players in soccer history, with Lionel Messi remaining the only player to receive it twice. Even goalkeepers have their own positional honor, the Golden Glove, they are also eligible for the Golden Ball. Oliver Kahn remains the only goalkeeper to win the tournament’s MVP award after doing so in 2002. Golden Ball winners World CupGolden BallTeam’s finishChampion1982Paolo Rossi (Italy)ChampionsItaly1986Diego Maradona (Argentina)ChampionsArgentina1990Salvatore Schillaci (Italy)Third placeWest Germany1994Romário (Brazil)ChampionsBrazil1998Ronaldo (Brazil)Runners-upFrance2002Oliver Kahn (Germany)Runners-upBrazil2006Zinedine Zidane (France)Runners-upItaly2010Diego Forlán (Uruguay)Fourth placeSpain2014Lionel Messi (Argentina)Runners-upGermany2018Luka Modrić (Croatia)Runners-upFrance2022Lionel Messi (Argentina)ChampionsArgentina2026Rodri (Spain)ChampionsSpain*In 1978, a group of journalists voted Mario Kempes as the tournament’s best player after Argentina won the title. Paolo Rossi and Dirceu finished second and third, respectively. FIFA recognizes this unofficial award in its records.