Luka Modric has achieved a historic milestone in his career against Panama as it was his 200th international appearance for Croatia. This has been one of the most iconic movements of the midfield maestro’s career, as very few can achieve what he has done for his national side. Modric has been pulling the strings for Croatia in the middle since his debut in 200,6 and he has turned out to be an absolute legend for his nation. The Croatian captain was an incredible find for Real Madrid, and his ability to replicate the same kind of performances for his nation was commendable. This remarkable feat highlights nearly two decades of world-class excellence,nce and Croatia hasn’t really found the replacement for the veteran.

Modric became the first Croatian player and only the fourth man ever to reach the prestigious 200-cap milestone. By doing so, he joins a legendary set of players dominated by Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, who leads with 230 caps, alongside Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa at 202 caps, and Argentina's Lionel Messi with 201 caps. Sharing the stage with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi is itself a testament to his legacy in the game. Modric would be playing his last FIFA World Cup this time, and he will be determined to make the most of it.

Croatia revive Round of 32 hopes with win over Panama

After suffering an opening defeat in the tournament, Croatia desperately needed a win to keep its knockout stage hopes alive. Panama was quite strong defensively, and they made life quite difficult for the attackers who were trying to break the line. But the deadlock was finally broken in the second half by substitute Ante Budimir, who scored a fine goal to see Croatia through. This would be an important set of points for the side, as this 3 points could help them get a grip on the qualification for the knockout stages.

Modric’s presence in the midfield remains crucial for the side, and his ability to orchestrate the game is unparalleled. Since making his senior international debut back on June 1, 2006, the veteran midfielder has scored 29 goals for his country, most notably guiding them as captain to the memorable 2018 World Cup final. In the 2022 FIFA World Cup, they finished as the second runners-up, and Luka Modric played a key role in evolving the side to a very strong one. Croatia has been considered the dark horses of the tournament in the last couple of editions with their breathtaking performances.

As Luka Modric and his men gear up once again for the charge at World Cup glory, it would be interesting to see if they could get past all the hurdles this time out. They are undoubtedly a fine side that could pose a threat to most of the teams in the tournament, but their composure under pressure would be at stake. All eyes will be on Luka Modric as the fans will be hoping that the veteran could produce his kind of magic at the big stage.