A day after Croatia’s victory over Panama at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Luka Modrić was honoured by the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) with a surprise celebration marking Modrić 200th appearance for the national team.
The tribute took place during lunch at the team’s hotel in Alexandria. As the meal came to an end, a large screen descended from the ceiling, the lights dimmed and an emotional video began playing.
The video features heartfelt messages from Croatian Football Federation president Marijan Kustić, head coach Zlatko Dalić, current and former teammates, coaches, members of the national team staff, Croatian football legends and Modrić’s closest family, including his parents, wife and children.
The emotional tribute visibly moved Croatia’s captain Luka Modrić.
“First of all, thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your congratulations and for making my 200th appearance for Croatia even more special. I had no idea you had prepared this, so I wasn’t ready to give a speech,” Modrić said.
He described reaching 200 appearances in the Croatia shirt as something he could never have imagined.
“To reach 200 matches in the jersey I love most is truly incredible. I never dreamed I would reach this milestone, especially at the World Cup, the biggest sporting event in the world.”
Despite the celebration, Modrić quickly turned his attention to Croatia’s final group-stage match.
“We still have one more group match ahead of us and our primary goal is to qualify for the knockout stage. We have the quality, the character and the unity, as we showed in a very difficult match. Once again, thank you all. Everything I’ve experienced with Croatia has been incredible. Let’s keep going together”, Modrić said.
To mark the occasion, HNS also presented Modrić with a special cake featuring the number 200.
Modrić 200th appearance marks another historic milestone
Luka Modrić made his Croatia debut on March 1st 2006 in a friendly game against Argentina. Over the next two decades, he became the most-capped player in the history of the Croatian national team, making 200 appearances and scoring 29 goals for his country.
Born in Zadar in 1985, Modrić began his professional career with Dinamo Zagreb before gaining valuable experience on loan at Zrinjski Mostar and Inter Zaprešić. His performances earned him a move to Tottenham Hotspur in 2008, where he established himself as one of the Premier League’s finest midfielders.
In 2012, Modrić joined Real Madrid, where he became one of the most successful players in the club’s history. During his time in Spain, he won multiple UEFA Champions League titles, La Liga championships and numerous domestic and international trophies.
In 2018, after leading Croatia to the FIFA World Cup final, Modrić won the Ballon d’Or, becoming the first player in more than a decade to break the dominance of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
As Croatia’s captain, Modrić has led the Vatreni through the most successful era in the nation’s football history, including a runners-up finish at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and a third-place finish in 2022.
His 200th appearance is another historic milestone in an extraordinary international career and further cements his place among the greatest players in Croatian football history.
After the celebration, attention turns to Ghana
Croatia’s journey at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been anything but straightforward. The Vatreni opened their campaign with a defeat to England before bouncing back with a crucial victory over Panama to keep their knockout hopes alive.
They now face Ghana in their final Group L match on Saturday, with a place in the knockout stage still on the line. For a full breakdown of Croatia’s qualification scenarios, read: What’s next for Croatia at the World Cup? Here’s what the Vatreni need to qualify.
