On Saturday, at 40 years and 291 days old, Modric became the oldest player ever to register an assist at a World Cup.
Petar Sucic, his Croatia team-mate, said Modric plays as if he were 20, was outstanding, and is their leader and best player.
You only need to look at Croatia’s last two World Cups to grasp the scale of his impact.
In 2018, Croatia surprised the world by reaching the final, where they lost to France, and in the most recent tournament they finished third—highlighted by Modric’s superb 120-minute performance at age 37 against Brazil in the quarter-final. For a nation of just under four million people, these achievements are extraordinary.
Only five players have appeared more times at the World Cup than Modric’s 22 across five editions. He made his World Cup debut in 2006 and has surpassed 200 international caps for his country.