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Luka Modric enters the club of 200 games
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Sports

Luka Modric enters the club of 200 games

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Croatian captain Luka Modric achieved his 200th international appearance in a match against Panama.
  • He joins an elite group of footballers including Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Bader Al-Mutawa who have reached this milestone.
  • Coach Zlatko Dalic emphasized Modric's indispensable role on the field, while teammate Josip Stanisic highlighted his exemplary status for future generations.

Croatian captain Luka Modric has reached a monumental milestone, earning his 200th international cap in the team's match against Panama in Toronto. This achievement places the veteran midfielder in an exclusive club of footballers who have reached such a high number of appearances, standing alongside global icons Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Kuwait's Bader Al-Mutawa.

It's my right hand on the field.

— Zlatko DalicCroatia's coach describing Luka Modric's importance.

At 40 years old, Modric's journey to 200 international games has been a testament to his enduring skill and dedication. His presence on the field is considered vital by Croatia's coach, Zlatko Dalic, who refers to Modric as his "right hand on the field." Dalic stressed the need for the team to improve and act as favorites following a previous loss, underscoring the high stakes of their current tournament.

Modric's career is synonymous with the golden generation of Croatian football. His leadership and performance were instrumental in Croatia reaching the 2018 World Cup final and securing third place in the 2022 World Cup. His 2018 Ballon d'Or win further cemented his legacy as one of the game's all-time greats.

We have to be better than the last time. Act as favorites.

— Zlatko DalicCoach Dalic demanding improvement from his team after a previous defeat.

Teammates express profound admiration for Modric. Defender Josip Stanisic described sharing a locker room with him as "impossible" in terms of the emotional weight and inspiration he provides. Stanisic views Modric not only as a footballing genius but also as a perfect role model for aspiring Croatian international players, embodying exemplary conduct both on and off the pitch.

Impossible.

— Josip StanisicCroatian defender describing the magnitude of playing alongside Luka Modric.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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