Luka Modrić to make historic 200th appearance for Croatia, joins elite club

Luka Modrić is set to achieve a remarkable milestone, making his 200th appearance for the Croatian national football team in a match against Panama. This achievement places him in the elite "Club 200," a group of only four players worldwide to reach this number of international caps.

Modrić joins football legends like Cristiano Ronaldo (229 appearances for Portugal), Bader Al-Mutawa of Kuwait (202), and Lionel Messi of Argentina (200). The Croatian captain's career has been marked by consistent dedication, including participation in five World Cups and five European Championships.

Reflecting on his journey, Modrić recently shared, "The path has been great, I could not have even dreamed of being at five World Cups. When I look back at the beginning, I was a boy who had big dreams. I dreamed of one appearance, and soon I will have 200." He credits each tournament for his growth as a player and a person.

Modrić debuted for Croatia in March 2006 and scored his first goal in August of the same year. He captained the team to a silver medal at the 2018 World Cup and a bronze in 2022, also securing a silver in the 2023 Nations League. He has scored 29 goals for his country.

Teammates have expressed admiration for Modrić's longevity and impact. Andrej Kramarić called it a "truly incredible number" and a "miraculous story." Petar Sučić noted, "It's hard to reach this level, and hardest to stay. Then you know how special Luka is when he has collected 200 appearances. We can admire him and take our hats off." Josip Šutalo added, "We can all just admire, we all know what a player and man he is. All credit to him."

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The path has been great, I could not have even dreamed of being at five World Cups. When I look back at the beginning, I was a boy who had big dreams. I dreamed of one appearance, and soon I will have 200.