Luka Modric is still pulling the strings on the pitch for Croatia, but the 40-year-old midfielder is also making moves off it — in crypto. As the national team builds toward the 2026 World Cup, Modric has been deepening his involvement in digital asset ventures, a side hustle that ties his football legacy to the blockchain space.
Croatia's Form Ahead of the Tournament
Croatia's recent run of results has been strong. The team that reached the semifinals in 2022 and the final in 2018 is once again being talked about as a dark horse. Modric remains the heartbeat of the squad, even as he approaches his fifth World Cup. The country's football federation has been vocal about its ambitions, and the players seem to be peaking at the right time.
Modric's Crypto Play
Modric has been quietly building a portfolio of crypto-related projects. He hasn't publicly named specific tokens or platforms, but those close to him confirm he's advising and investing in blockchain initiatives focusing on fan engagement and athlete monetization. It's a lane many top athletes are exploring, but Modric's involvement carries extra weight given his stature in the sport. He's attended industry events and met with founders. He's reportedly interested in projects that let fans own a piece of their favorite players' careers, a concept that blends his on-field legacy with digital ownership.
Sports Legacy Meets Digital Innovation
The timing makes sense. Croatia's football success creates a global spotlight, and Modric is leveraging that attention for his crypto interests. He's not the first athlete to do so — but the intersection of a national team's World Cup run and a player's personal crypto ventures is still relatively novel. For Croatian fans, it adds another layer to Modric's already storied career. At 40, Modric is defying age on the pitch; his crypto moves show he's thinking about the future beyond it.
Croatia's World Cup campaign kicks off later this year. Modric is expected to be in the starting XI. Off the pitch, he's likely to unveil a specific crypto project in the coming months — possibly timed to the tournament. For now, the details are under wraps, but he's clearly aiming to be part of crypto's next chapter.
