Luka Modric ‘proud’ after reaching a new career milestone

The 2018 Ballon d’Or winner won his 150th cap for the Croatian national team on Monday.

A ‘proud’ Luka Modric was relieved that his milestone appearance for Croatia didn’t end in defeat.

Modric won his 150th cap on Monday in a 1-1 draw against France in a UEFA Nations League clash in Split. Andrej Kramaric’s late penalty canceled out Adrien Rabiot’s opener, sparing the Croatia captain of defeat on his special night.

“Irrespective of the result, thank God we didn’t lose,” Modric said after the final whistle. “But we can be content with the performance we displayed. We played well, compactly, bravely, and that’s what we were after.”

Europeans with the most international appearances 🔝

188 Cristiano Ronaldo 🇵🇹
180 Sergio Ramos 🇪🇸
176 Gianluigi Buffon 🇮🇹
167 Vitalijs Astafjevs 🇱🇻
167 Iker Casillas 🇪🇸
157 Martin Reim 🇪🇪
150 Lothar Matthaus 🇩🇪
150 @lukamodric10 🇭🇷✅#Family #Luka150 #Vatreni❤️‍🔥 pic.twitter.com/3KsbPjrtuN

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First Croatian to win 150 caps

On Monday, Modric became the first player to earn 150 caps for Croatia after the national team’s readmission by FIFA in 1992.

In honor of the milestone, the French team gave the 36-year-old a gift while the home crowd made a tifo – which read: ‘You are our captain, We are yours Luka’.

“This is a phenomenal feeling,” said Modric. “I’m happy and proud that I was able to reach this achievement with Croatia. I really didn’t expect this, but there you go, I’m very proud and happy to have done so.

“Thanks to the crowd for their reception. It’s enough to make your hairs stand up. Thanks to them for that, and to the French and [Didier] Deschamps for their gift. I didn’t expect that either, but it was a beautiful gesture from them.”