New Delhi: Croatian maestro Luka Modric scripted footballing history early Wednesday, becoming only the fourth man in the history of the sport to don his national colours 200 times. The development came during Croatia’s 1-0 victory against Panama in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
With this, Modric joined an elite list of players that includes just three others: Argentina’s Lionel Messi, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, and Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa. In his 200 appearances for his national side, he has scored 27 goals and provided 31 assists.
The veteran playmaker marked his landmark appearance at the Toronto Stadium with a much-needed win for his team, who are drawn in a tight Group L alongside pre-tournament favourites England, Ghana and Panama.
After the game, a visibly emotional Modric was swept up by ecstatic teammates and the team support staff.
The midfield maestro has spent over two decades at the top of international football, showcasing incredible longevity, physical fitness and mental agility. He is among the top workhorses for both club and country, orchestrating the centre of the pitch with his impeccable passing, ball control and vision.
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Luka Modric’s journey
Modric’s journey, from a childhood shaped in the shadows of the Balkan Conflict to the absolute pinnacle of world football, is well documented. For more than 15 years now, he has been the heartbeat of a generation long touted as “Croatia’s Golden Generation” in football. The team made a remarkable run to the finals at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, finishing runners-up to a star-studded French side.
In the 2022 edition in Qatar, Croatia put up yet another exhibition on football’s biggest stage and finished in third place. Modric’s role was pivotal in both runs, and for his exploits in the 2018 tournament, alongside his performances for Champions League-winning club Real Madrid, he won the 2018 Ballon d’Or. With his win, he broke Messi and Ronaldo’s decade-long duopoly over football’s highest individual honour, becoming the first man apart from them to win the prize since 2007.
His exploits at the club level are also legendary. Starting with Dinamo Zagreb, he caught the eyes of scouts of Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, where he cemented himself as one of the game’s most exciting young midfielders. In 2012, Modric made the high-profile move to Spanish giants Real Madrid and was a key member of one of the club’s most glittering eras. In 13 seasons at Madrid, he won 28 trophies, a club record.
These included six UEFA Champions League titles, six Club World Cups, five UEFA Super Cups, four La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey titles and five Spanish Super Cups. He played 597 games as a Madridista, scoring 43 goals and dishing out 76 assists. In 2025, he called time on his decorated time at Real Madrid, and now plies his trade in Italy for AC Milan.
Modric and Croatia next face Ghana in their final group-stage match of the World Cup on 28 June.
(Edited by Saptak Datta)