Luka Modrić just did something at the World Cup only three other players have in history

He may no longer be a Real Madrid player, but Luka Modrić remains a beloved figure among all Madridistas. Thus, supporters will have been pleased to learn about the 40 year old's landmark occasion this week. On Tuesday, Croatia beat Panama 1-0 in the World Cup at BMO Field, with Osasuna striker Ante Budimir the match-winner in Toronto.

The game though was all about Modrić, as it marked the occasion of his 200th international cap. To say this is a rare feat for any man of any nationality would be an understatement.

Men with 200+ senior international caps

Both Modrić and Lionel Messi have surpassed 200 caps during this tournament, joining Cristiano Ronaldo and Bader Al-Mutawa of Kuwait in this very exclusive club, the latter very much the outlier among the quartet. Plenty of other former Real Madrid players have accumulated a ridiculous number of appearances for their respective countries, so who else came close to Modrić's milestone?

Former Real Madrid players 130+ international caps

Spain's two leading appearances holders of all-time are both Real Madrid legends, with Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas representing la Roja 347 times between them. Meantime, Ángel Di María and Pepe retired from international football at the same time two summers ago, both have surpassed 140 caps each.

Nevertheless, none of them came overly close to the 200 mark, underlining the scale of Modrić's achievement, so let's assess his international career in full.

Luka Modrić international career statistics

Note: All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt.

In case it needed emphasising further, Modrić's statistics for Croatia are astonishing. His debut came in March 2006, a friendly against Argentina, oddly played at St. Jakob-Park in Basel, Switzerland. His partner in midfield that day was Niko Kovač, who was born in 1971 and has so far managed six teams, currently in charge of Borussia Dortmund. On target that day? A certain Lionel Messi, the first of his 122 international goals, and counting. The 13,138 in attendance really did get an "I was there" game.

At club level, Modrić departed Real Madrid 12 months ago having made 597 appearances for los Blancos, winning 28 major honours, making him the most decorated player in the club's illustrious history. This haul included six Champions League titles, starting the first five of these finals, coming off the bench in the latter.

Last season, Modrić was a key figure for A.C. Milan although, with his contract expiring at San Siro, there is speculation that he will retire all together after the World Cup. If this is the case, we should cherish every last minute of Modrić in action.

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