In the company of Messi and Ronaldo. Modrić nears historic World Cup record
Jan Novak
Dailysports's expert
Legendary Croatian midfielder Luka Modrić is on the verge of achieving a historic milestone at the 2026 World Cup. Croatia's 3-1 victory over the Faroe Islands secured their ticket to the tournament, and for the 40-year-old Modrić, this potentially marks his fifth appearance at football's biggest stage.
Remarkably, before Modrić joined the national team, Croatia had only qualified for the World Cup twice. Since the playmaker's arrival, the "Chequered Ones" are now set for their fifth World Cup campaign.
If Modrić stays fit and takes the field in 2026, he will join an elite group of footballers who have played in five or more World Cups. Among these legends are Cristiano Ronaldo, Lothar Matthäus, Lionel Messi, as well as Rafa Márquez, Andrés Guardado, and Antonio Carbajal.
