Luka Modric confirmed that he has not retired after Croatia was almost eliminated right after the end of the Euro 2024 group stage.

Croatia captain Luka Modric set a record for the oldest player to score in a Euro tournament when he put Croatia ahead against Italy in the 55th minute. The goal came just 33 seconds after he missed a penalty. At 38 years and 189 days, Luka Modric has made history at Euro, with only Cristiano Ronaldo – seven months older than Modric – possibly breaking it in the coming days.

38-year-old warrior Luka Modric worked tirelessly for 80 minutes on the field

Winning meant advancing, but Croatia could not maintain the advantage that Modric brought. Ironically, everything collapsed for Croatia in the last minute of injury time 90+8 when Mattia Zaccagni scored the equalizer for the Italian team.

He missed the penalty kick in the 55th minute…

…but scored to put Croatia ahead just 33 seconds later

Drawing 1-1 with Croatia in this crucial match, Italy took second place in Group B after Spain, officially entering the round of 16 while Croatia finished the group stage with only 2 points, considered eliminated because it was difficult to compete for a wild card ticket for the 4 third-placed teams with the best results.

Luka Modric sets scoring record at 38 years and 189 days

Earlier this June, Luka Modric agreed a one-year contract extension with Real Madrid but admitted he was unsure how many more seasons he would play. “I want to play forever but the time will come when I have to hang up my boots. I will continue to play but for how long, I don’t know,” Modric said after Croatia’s draw with Italy.

Modric makes way for Lovro Majer in the 80th minute

… impatiently signaled to his teammates that they still had 10 minutes to play.

Asked if this would be his last appearance for Croatia, Modric replied: “Let’s wait and see, now is not the time to talk about that.”

Modric did not greet Croatian fans with his teammates after the match.

Waiting to explode

Angry protest against referee Danny Makkelie

… criticized the addition of 8 minutes of injury time that caused Croatia to collapse

Old warrior explodes

Modric described the result against Italy as “really cruel” and was highly critical of the referee’s decision to add eight minutes of extra time. “I don’t know what to say, football can be cruel sometimes, that’s what happened to us today. Croatia didn’t deserve this terrible result, I don’t understand why the referee added eight minutes of extra time. The way we lost today was very painful.”

Luka Modric shares frustration with coach Zlatko Dalic

Direct criticism of teammates Ivan Perisic and Andrej Kramaric

Accept the bitter truth

No emotion when receiving the “Best Player” award of the match

Asked about his record as the oldest goalscorer in European Championship history, Modric said: “This record means nothing as it doesn’t help the team. We fought like lions, but football is cruel and bitter results come in the last seconds. It will take us a long time to accept this reality.”

Croatia eliminated, a generation of talented players will leave but there will be no Modric