Luka Modric Highest-Paid Footballer in the World

It's been a rough year for the footballer, but at least he has his millions of dollars to ease the pain. 40-year-old Luka Modric has taken the No. 1 spot on People With Money’s top 10 highest-paid footballers for 2026 with an estimated $82 million in combined earnings.

UPDATE 20/03/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Luka Modric tops annual list of highest-paid footballers

In 2023 it looked like the footballer’s spectacular career was winding down. Suddenly, he was back on top. People With Money reports on Thursday (March 19) that Modrić is the highest-paid footballer in the world, pulling in an astonishing $82 million between February 2025 and February 2026, a nearly $50 million lead over his closest competition.

People With Money’s factors

In compiling this yearly list, the magazine considers factors such as upfront pay, profit participation, residuals, endorsements and advertising work.

The Croatian footballer has an estimated net worth of $245 million. He owes his fortune to smart stock investments, substantial property holdings, lucrative endorsement deals with CoverGirl cosmetics. He also owns several restaurants (the “Fat Modrić Burger” chain) in Zagreb, a Football Team (the “Zadar Angels”), has launched his own brand of Vodka (Pure Wondermodrić - Croatia), and is tackling the juniors market with a top-selling perfume (With Love from Luka) and a fashion line called “Luka Modric Seduction”.

The ranking is significant for many Luka fans, who have been waiting for his triumphant return to the glory days for what seems like a lifetime.

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