Croatia’s Modric undergoes facial surgery but aims to be fit for World Cup
Key takeaways
- Luka Modric suffered a facial fracture in AC Milan’s game against Juventus and underwent surgery the following day.
- Modric left the field with 10 minutes left in the game, and although clearly in pain, he remained on the bench until the end without receiving medical treatment.
- Tests revealed a fracture to his left cheekbone, and Modric underwent surgery hours later.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Luka Modric suffered a facial fracture in AC Milan’s game against Juventus and underwent surgery the following day.
xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogle Add Al Jazeera on Googleinfo AC Milan's Luka Modric left the pitch after sustaining an injury on his face, in Milan, Italy, on April 26, 2026 [Daniele Mascolo/Reuters]By Reuters and The Associated Press Published On 28 Apr 202628 Apr 2026Luka Modric has undergone a successful surgery after fracturing his left cheekbone and is expected to be fit for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, the Croatian Football Federation said.
The AC Milan midfielder sustained the injury following a clash of heads with Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli during Sunday’s 0-0 Serie A draw at the San Siro and underwent surgery on Monday, weeks before the 40-year-old is due to participate in his fifth World Cup.