Luka Modrić marks 200th cap as Croatia beats Panama

Luka Modrić made his 200th international appearance for Croatia on Tuesday, June 23, in a 1-0 victory over Panama at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Toronto. The 40-year-old midfielder became just the fourth male player in football history to reach the milestone, joining Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Kuwait's Bader Al-Mutawa.

The historic night was also crucial for Croatia's tournament hopes. A first-half goal from striker Ante Budimir secured the win, reviving the team's campaign after an opening defeat to England. The result leaves Croatia with three points in Group L, one point behind leaders England and Ghana. Panama, which has now lost both of its matches, was eliminated from the competition.

Modrić, who turns 41 in September, made his Croatia debut in a March 2006 friendly against Argentina. The match against Panama marked his participation in a fifth World Cup, a journey that began in 2006 in Germany. He missed the 2010 tournament when Croatia failed to qualify but returned in 2014. His international career is highlighted by captaining Croatia to a runner-up finish in 2018, where he won the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player, and a third-place finish in 2022.