2018 FIFA World Cup runners-up Croatia are taking on Panama in their second Group L match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Tuesday (Wednesday IST). The fixture at BMO Field in Toronto is a special occasion for captain Luka Modrić, as he is making his 200th appearance for the Croatian senior men’s national team.
Modrić is the first Croatian and only the fourth player in the world to play 200 or more international matches.
The record for the most appearances in international football is held by Cristiano Ronaldo. The 41-year-old has played 230 matches for Portugal so far. He is followed by Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa, while Argentina’s Lionel Messi occupies third place with 201 appearances.
Most matches in international football
| RANK | PLAYER | COUNTRY | Confederation | Caps | Debut | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | UEFA | 230 | August 20, 2003 | June 23, 2026 |
| 2. | Bader Al-Mutawa | Kuwait | AFC | 202 | September 4, 2003 | June 14, 2022 |
| 3. | Lionel Messi | Argentina | CONMEBOL | 201 | August 17, 2005 | June 22, 2026 |
| 4. | Luka Modrić | Croatia | UEFA | 200* | March 1, 2006 | June 23, 2026 |
| 5. | Soh Chin Ann | Malaysia | AFC | 195 | November 19, 1969 | October 18, 1984 |
| 6. | Ahmed Kano | Oman | AFC | 193 | September 25, 2003 | December 2, 2019 |
| 7. | Hassan Al-Haydos | Qatar | AFC | 187 | August 9, 2008 | June 13, 2026 |
| 8. | Ahmed Hassan | Egypt | CAF | 184 | December 29, 1995 | May 22, 2012 |
| 9. | Andrés Guardado | Mexico | CONCACAF | 180 | December 14, 2005 | October 15, 2024 |
| Sergio Ramos | Spain | UEFA | 180 | March 26, 2005 | March 31, 2021 |
Modrić, who led Croatia
to the FIFA World Cup final in 2018, made his international debut on June 1, 2006, and has scored 29 goals for his country. The former Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid star will be hoping to add to his tally against Panama and help Croatia secure their first win of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Luka Modric’s matches for Croatia (year-by-year)
| YEAR | MATCHES | GOALS |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 12 | 2 |
| 2007 | 10 | 1 |
| 2008 | 11 | 3 |
| 2009 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010 | 8 | 0 |
| 2011 | 9 | 1 |
| 2012 | 9 | 0 |
| 2013 | 10 | 0 |
| 2014 | 11 | 2 |
| 2015 | 4 | 0 |
| 2016 | 8 | 1 |
| 2017 | 8 | 1 |
| 2018 | 15 | 2 |
| 2019 | 9 | 2 |
| 2020 | 6 | 0 |
| 2021 | 13 | 4 |
| 2022 | 16 | 3 |
| 2023 | 10 | 1 |
| 2024 | 12 | 3 |
| 2025 | 10 | 1 |
| 2026 | 6* | 1 |
| Total | 200* | 29 |
Croatia faced England in their opening Group L match on June 17 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington but suffered a disappointing 4-2 defeat. England captain Harry Kane scored twice in that match, while Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford also found the back of the net to seal the victory for the Three Lions.
A win over Panama on Tuesday (Wednesday IST) will keep Croatia in contention for a place in the Round of 32, whereas a defeat would eliminate them from the tournament at the group stage.
