Luka Modric has continued to defy age by setting another landmark for Croatia at 41. The veteran midfielder scored against Czechia in the UEFA Nations League to extend his own record as the oldest player to score for the Croatian national team.
Modric found the net in the 47th minute after receiving the ball outside the penalty area. He produced a well-struck right-footed effort to beat the goalkeeper and put Croatia ahead. The goal came when Modric was 41 years and 17 days old, further extending a record he had first established two years earlier.
The Croatian midfielder originally became his country’s oldest goalscorer in June 2024. During Euro 2024, he scored against Italy at the age of 38 years and 289 days. That strike also made him the oldest player to score in the history of the European Championship at the time.
Before Modric claimed the Croatian record, it belonged to former Croatia captain Niko Kovac. Kovac scored against Kazakhstan in September 2008 when he was 36 years, 10 months and 22 days old.
Ivan Perisic later moved into second place on Croatia’s list of oldest international goalscorers. He scored at the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the age of 37 years, five months and one day, surpassing Kovac’s previous mark.
The latest milestone came on a night when Croatia also secured a 2-1 victory over Czechia. Modric’s opener gave the hosts the advantage before Adam Karabec brought Czechia level. Marko Pasalic then scored the decisive goal to restore Croatia’s lead and complete the victory.
Modric’s involvement had been uncertain only hours before kick-off. He had been suffering from a fever and was unable to attend the pre-match press conference. Despite those concerns, he recovered sufficiently to take his place on the pitch and subsequently made a decisive contribution to the result.
The goal underlined Modric’s continuing importance to Croatia, even as he enters the later stages of his career. His international record has already placed him among the country’s most accomplished footballers, while his ability to continue scoring at an age when most players have retired has added another remarkable chapter to his career.
For Croatia, the victory over Czechia provided three points and another memorable individual achievement for their long-serving midfielder. For Modric, the night brought yet another age-related record, this time one that he had previously set himself.
