Eight years have passed since the historic silver in Moscow, and the paths of Dalić's Vatreni have scattered in all directions, from playing at age 40 to veteran leagues and executive chairs.
On this day, July 15, 2018, the Croatian national football team wrote the brightest chapter in its history. In the World Cup final in Moscow, the team led by then-coach Zlatko Dalić faced France and returned home with the world silver. Eight years later, the fates of those heroes have taken very different paths, some still shine on the biggest stage, others have hung up their boots and found new roles in football, and there are those who have completely withdrawn from professional sport.
Luka Modrić, the captain who won the Golden Ball for the tournament's best player in Russia, continues to defy time. After a record 13 seasons at Real Madrid, he signed for Milan in 2025. This summer, at the age of 40, he extended his commitment to the Italian giants until June 2027. His story was further spiced up by the new Croatian coach Slaven Bilić, who publicly stated that he wants Modrić to continue his international career.
Mateo Kovačić, who at 24 was a key option off the bench in Russia, is now a regular at Manchester City, where he moved in 2023 after winning the Champions League with Chelsea. Marcelo Brozović, the indispensable engine of the team in the final, left Inter in 2023 for Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr, where he shared a dressing room with Cristiano Ronaldo. His contract expired this summer, and he is currently without a club, having retired from the national team in 2024 with 99 caps.
Ivan Rakitić, Modrić's midfield partner, left the national team in 2020 with 106 caps. After Barcelona, Sevilla, and a Saudi stint, he ended his career in 2025 at Hajduk. He immediately moved into club structures as technical director, a role he held until the end of June 2026. Today, he continues his collaboration with the club as its ambassador. Milan Badelj, an important squad player who scored against Iceland in Russia, ended his professional career in August 2025 in the jersey of Genoa. He earned 55 caps and two goals for Croatia. Filip Bradarić, one of the least-used players of the silver generation, ended his playing career in the summer of 2024 at just 32 years old.
Ivan Perišić, the scorer of Croatia's only goal in the final, is still an international. Last season, he shone for PSV, scoring eight goals and providing 13 assists in 38 matches. At 38 years old with 158 caps for Croatia, he is again heavily linked with a return to Inter this summer. Ante Rebić, whose goal against Argentina is still talked about, returned to Hajduk in 2025. In one season, he made 30 appearances, scoring seven goals and providing six assists, but he did not accept a new contract. Since July 1, he has been a free agent.
Mario Mandžukić, the hero of the semifinal and final, retired from the national team immediately after the World Cup with 89 caps and 33 goals. He ended his career in 2021 and then spent three years in Dalić's staff, which he left in 2024. Today, he has no official role in professional football. Andrej Kramarić, who came off the bench in the final, still plays for Hoffenheim, where he arrived back in 2016. He has become the club's all-time top scorer and extended his contract with the German top-flight side this spring. Marko Pjaca, whose career was marked by serious injuries after his transfer to Juventus, is now a member of Dutch club Twente.
Domagoj Vida is one of the few defenders still playing professionally. Since 2022, he has been with AEK, with whom he has won league titles, and he wore the national jersey 105 times before retiring in 2024. Dejan Lovren, Liverpool's center-back in 2018, is currently without a club after his contract with PAOK expired. Although he is 37 years old with 78 international caps, he has not officially announced his retirement.
Šime Vrsaljko, the regular right-back, ended his career very early due to injury problems, in early 2023 at just 31 years old. Ivan Strinić, the left-back, went to Milan after the World Cup, but a medical examination revealed a heart condition. He ended his professional career as early as 2019 with 49 caps for Croatia. Josip Pivarić, his backup, ended his playing career in 2023, but he did not leave football, he now plays for the veteran team VNK Poliklinika Ribnjak in the Zagreb league.
Tin Jedvaj, an important member of the wider squad, is now with Panathinaikos, where he is under contract until the summer of 2027. He has earned 26 caps and scored two goals for Croatia. Duje Ćaleta-Car, who was only 21 in Russia, spent last season on loan at Real Sociedad, with whom he won the Copa del Rey. The Spanish club did not exercise the purchase option, so he returned to Lyon this summer.
Danijel Subašić, one of the biggest heroes on the road to the final, ended his playing career after returning to Hajduk. He took up coaching and worked as a goalkeeper coach in Dalić's staff at the 2026 World Cup. This year, the Croatian Football Federation registered him for NK Škabrnja '91 in veteran competitions. Dominik Livaković, who did not play in Russia, became the hero of Qatar four years later. After moving to Fenerbahçe in 2023, he spent last season on loan at Dinamo. With the loan over, he is again a player of the Turkish club, while Dinamo is trying to arrange his return.
Lovre Kalinić, who made one appearance in Russia against Iceland, left Hajduk in the summer of 2025 and has been without a club for over a year. Although he has no professional engagement, he has not officially announced his retirement. Vedran Ćorluka, one of the most experienced in Moscow, ended his playing career in 2021 and immediately joined Dalić's staff. As a coach, he won the world bronze in 2022 and the Nations League silver, and he was also on the staff at the 2026 World Cup. After Dalić's departure, new coach Slaven Bilić confirmed that Ćorluka will not remain on his staff.
