Luka Modric shines after special honor in the Croatian national team
Luka Modric celebrated his 200th match with a victory over Panama and a warm tribute from his teammates.
Croatia had a difficult game, but managed to secure an important 1-0 victory against Panama. "That's good, because these are three extremely important points," commented a relieved Modric after the match. He recalled that his 100th match did not end well and expressed relief that this one had been different.
After the final whistle, the team had the chance to celebrate their star's great achievement. All players wore special t-shirts in honor of Modric's milestone, which was lifted by teammates in celebration. The 40-year-old midfielder was beaming as he reflected on the achievement. "Two hundred games is incredible," said Modric. "I'm proud and happy, it's unbelievable to reach this number wearing my favorite shirt, something I never dreamed of. I want to thank the fans for their incredible support, everyone who congratulated me and everyone who shared these two hundred matches with me: coaches, teammates, former teammates and everyone around the national team."
Teammates also expressed fond words about their captain. "We all know what Luka means to us," said Ante Budimir, scorer of the winning goal. "He is our leader, the greatest legend of Croatian football. His character is an example for us, and his skills on the field are, without a doubt, incredible.",