Modric becomes fourth player in history to reach 200 international caps

Milestone reached 21 years after debut — only fourth player ever

Croatia captain tossed in air by teammates after Panama win

Croatia's Luka Modric is tossed in the air by teammates after the 2026 World Cup Group L match between Croatia and Panama on Wednesday. The players wore shirts commemorating Modric's 200th cap for the Croatian national team. The match was held at Toronto Stadium in Toronto, Canada. [Xinhua]

Luka Modric, the 40-year-old Croatia midfielder making what may be his final World Cup appearance, became only the fourth player in history to earn 200 international caps, achieving the milestone at the 2026 North America World Cup.

Croatia's captain started Wednesday's Group L second-round match against Panama at Toronto Stadium in Toronto, Canada, playing 81 minutes before being substituted as Croatia won 1-0. The appearance brought his career international tally to 200 caps and 29 goals.

The only players to have previously reached 200 caps are Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal (213 caps), Kuwait's Bader Al-Mutawa, who has since retired (202 caps), and Lionel Messi of Argentina (201 caps). Modric is the fourth.

Of those four, three — Ronaldo, Messi and Modric — are still active. Modric is also the only central midfielder among the four, a distinction that has drawn particular notice.

Modric is widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of his generation. In 2018, he broke the long-standing duopoly of Ronaldo and Messi by winning the Ballon d'Or. That same year he swept the FIFA Best Men's Player award and the UEFA Men's Player of the Year award, cementing a remarkable second peak in his career.

Croatia's Luka Modric is fouled by Panama's Edgar Joel Barcenas during the 2026 World Cup Group L match between Panama and Croatia on Wednesday. The match was held at Toronto Stadium in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. [AFP]

Modric made his international debut at age 20 in a friendly against Argentina in March 2006. That match featured a young Messi, then appearing in his sixth cap, who scored — but Croatia won 3-2. It was the first time Modric and Messi faced each other in international football.

Modric reached the pinnacle of his international career in 2018, when he won the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player at the Russia World Cup — even as Croatia fell to France in the final and finished as runner-up.

At the 2022 Qatar World Cup, his fourth tournament, he led Croatia to a third-place finish and was awarded the Bronze Ball.

Modric's participation in this World Cup was in doubt after he suffered a fractured cheekbone during a club match in April, just weeks before the tournament. He recovered in time to make the final squad, stepping onto the World Cup stage for a fifth time in his career.

After the final whistle, the Croatian Football Federation presented Modric with a commemorative jersey marking his 200th cap. His teammates celebrated their captain wearing T-shirts bearing the number 200 and the words "Infinite Legacy" on the chest.

yjc@heraldcorp.com