Modrić Makes History as Croatia and Panama Clash in Must-Win World Cup Encounter

Luka Modrić is set to become the fourth men's player to reach 200 international caps as Croatia faces Panama in a critical Group L match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Toronto. Both teams enter the fixture desperate for a victory after losing their opening games, with Croatia falling 4-2 to England and Panama suffering a late defeat to Ghana.

Modrić, now 40, joins an elite group that includes Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Bader Al-Mutawa. The veteran midfielder looked off the pace in the opener, but Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic will hope his captain can rediscover his form against a Panama side that has grown in confidence since its World Cup debut in 2018.

Croatia, runners-up in 2018 and third-place finishers in 2022, rely heavily on an experienced core. Alongside Modrić, Ivan Perišić and Andrej Kramarić add depth but raise questions about the squad's stamina. Younger talents like Martin Baturina and Petar Sucic showed promise against England and are expected to feature prominently as Croatia pushes for an early goal.

Panama, no longer tournament novices, arrive in North America after strong performances in the 2024 Copa América and the 2023 Gold Cup. With a well-organised 3-4-3 formation and attacking threats down the flanks, they aim to exploit any fatigue in Croatia's midfield. Captain Aníbal Godoy remains the team's anchor, while creative midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla is available on the bench after recovering from a pre-tournament knock.

In the other Group L fixture, England faces Ghana, with both sides on three points. A win for either Croatia or Panama could prove vital for progression to the knockout stages. The match kicks off in comfortable 24°C conditions at Toronto's stadium, setting the stage for a tense and high-stakes contest.