Croatia’s Modric undergoes facial surgery but aims to be fit for World Cup

Luka Modric suffered a facial ⁠fracture successful AC Milan’s crippled against Juventus and underwent country the pursuing day.

Luka Modric has undergone ⁠a palmy country aft ⁠fracturing his near cheekbone and is expected to beryllium acceptable for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, the Croatian Football Federation said.

The AC Milan midfielder sustained the wounded pursuing a clash of heads with Juventus ⁠midfielder Manuel Locatelli during Sunday’s 0-0 Serie A gully astatine the San Siro and underwent country connected Monday, weeks earlier the 40-year-old ⁠is owed to enactment successful his 5th World Cup.

Modric near the tract with 10 minutes near successful the game, and though intelligibly successful pain, helium remained connected the seat until the extremity without receiving aesculapian treatment.

Tests revealed a fracture to his near cheekbone, and Modric underwent country hours later.

Milan said it was “a complex, multi-fragment fracture of the near zygomatic bone”, but the cognition “was wholly successful”.

The nine did not accidental however agelong Modric volition beryllium sidelined. However, lone 4 rounds stay successful Serie A.

“The nine wishes Luka a speedy betterment up of the FIFA World Cup!” Milan added.

Modric volition play successful his 5th World Cup if helium represents Croatia successful the 2026 tourney [Stefano Rellandini/AFP]

The Croatian federation said nationalist aesculapian unit remained successful interaction with Modric, who captains the side, arsenic good arsenic his club.

“I’ve been talking to Luka, and wished him a palmy country and a prime and speedy recovery,” Croatia caput manager Zlatko Dalic said successful ⁠a statement.

“I americium convinced that helium volition ⁠do everything to beryllium acceptable for the World Cup, and we’ll supply afloat support.

“I americium assured that the betterment volition spell according to program and that ⁠Luka, arsenic squad captain, volition pb america astatine different large contention this summer.”

Milan are ⁠third successful the standings, 12 points down ⁠leaders Inter Milan with 4 games remaining, and Modric is doubtful to instrumentality immoderate portion successful their play run-in. A protective disguise whitethorn beryllium needed should ‌he retrieve successful clip for the World Cup.

Modric is successful the last months of his declaration with Milan, having signed a one-year woody past summertime pursuing 13 trophy-filled seasons astatine Real Madrid. He has an enactment to widen the declaration for different year.

The World Cup, cohosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, starts connected June ‌11, ‌and Croatia volition look England connected June 17, Ghana connected June 23 and Panama connected June 27 successful Group L.