Luka Modric is out for the season due to a fractured cheekbone, but is expected to play in the 2026 World Cup as scheduled.

AC Milan officially announced on Monday that 40-year-old Croatian midfield maestro Luka Modric has successfully undergone surgery to repair a complex, multi-fragmented fracture of his left cheekbone. The surgery was performed by Dr. Luka Ortlitano's team at the Santa Maria Clinic, with team doctors Stefano Mazzoni and Andrea Burgroni present throughout the procedure.

AC Milan has not yet disclosed the specific return date for Modric. Both Italian and Croatian media predict that Modric will likely miss the remainder of the season, but this will not prevent him from leading Croatia in his fifth World Cup this summer.

As a key member of the Croatian national team, Modric has made 196 appearances in international competitions to date, scoring 28 goals and providing 31 assists. His most representative achievement as a national team player is undoubtedly leading the team to a runner-up finish at the 2018 World Cup.

At the club level, Modric has also performed exceptionally well this season. Before being injured by Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli yesterday, he had made 36 appearances for AC Milan, helping the team to a third-placed Serie A record of 19 wins, 10 draws, and 5 losses, accumulating 67 points.

Image source: Internet/AC Milan official website