Luka Modrić becomes first Croatian to feature in five FIFA World Cups, and crypto is along for the ride
The 40-year-old midfielder's historic World Cup selection coincides with his new role as a crypto exchange ambassador and a wave of meme tokens bearing his name.
Luka Modrić just did something no Croatian footballer has ever done. The 40-year-old midfielder was named to Croatia’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making him the first player from the country to appear in five editions of the tournament.
His World Cup journey stretches back two decades. From his debut on June 18, 2006, through to the upcoming tournament, Modrić has accumulated 19 World Cup appearances, captained his nation to a final, and picked up both the Golden Ball and the Bronze Ball along the way.
From pitch to portfolio
In April 2026, CoinW, a crypto exchange, announced Modrić as its global brand ambassador. The timing was not accidental. Major sporting events have a well-documented habit of pulling attention, and attention in crypto tends to translate into trading volume.
Multiple Solana-based meme tokens inspired by the midfielder have emerged in recent weeks. One listing showed a price of approximately $0.0001345 with a market cap of about $114,000. Others have been even smaller, with market caps below $15,000. These are micro-cap tokens that exist primarily because a famous person’s name is attached to them. They are not affiliated with Modrić himself, and they carry all the risk you’d expect from assets that can be created in minutes and abandoned just as quickly.
There is, however, one official token in the mix. The VATRENI fan token is issued by the Croatian Football Federation and is designed for fan engagement rather than speculation.
A career that refuses to wind down
Currently playing for AC Milan, he recovered from an injury just in time for the squad selection on May 18, 2026. In 2018, Modrić captained Croatia to the World Cup final against France, where he won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player. Four years later, at 37, he led the team to a third-place finish and earned the Bronze Ball.
His five World Cups span from Germany 2006 to the United States, Canada, and Mexico in 2026. That’s a 20-year run at the highest level of international football, and none of them were Croatian until now.
What this means for crypto investors
The Solana-based meme tokens trading under Modrić’s name are textbook speculative plays. Market caps below $15,000 mean that a single whale trade can move the price dramatically in either direction.
The 2022 World Cup saw similar dynamics with various fan tokens and sports-themed meme coins. Traders who got in early sometimes profited. Those who chased pumps generally did not.
The VATRENI fan token, as an officially sanctioned product from the Croatian Football Federation, offers utility in the form of voting rights, exclusive content, and community engagement. Fan tokens in general have struggled to maintain value outside of event windows.