Luka Modric has become the oldest player to score for the Croatia national team following his strike in the team’s 2-1 win over Czech Republic in the UEFA Nations League.
Just two minutes into the second half of the match following a barren first half, Modric opened the scoring after receiving the ball outside the box from teammate, Igor Matanovic, and then fired a right-footed shot which beat opposition goalkeeper, Lukas Hornicek, to give Croatia the lead, and at age 41, be is now the oldest player to score the side.
Just a few hours before the match, his presence was not even completely guaranteed due to his recovery process from illness which prevented him from participating in the pre-match press conference, however, the AC Milan midfielder wiggled from the constraint to help Croatia win the game held in Prague yesterday by two goals to one.
The six time UEFA Champions League winner, who clocked 41 on September 9, also holds the record in the European Championship after scoring against Italy in Euro 2024 at age 38 and 289 days old to become the oldest goalscorer in the competition.
During the game yesterday, Czech responded just seven minutes after Modric has scored when with Adam Karabec made it 1-1, forcing the Croatian side to search for the lead once again.
The lead and winner arrived late in the match through Marco Pasalic who was found by forward, Ivan Perisic, the former, latching the round leather into the net to aid the win and three points away from home for his side in the Group A encounter, after which the record holder who had already left the field shortly before the winner was greeted with an ovation bringing an end to a performance that only hours earlier had been in doubt because of his physical condition.
Modric now has 203 appearances for the national team also making him the most capped player in the history after making his debut in 2006, registering 30 goals.
The midfielder could as well continue his record breaking as he could become the oldest player to score in two consecutive games if he scores during Croatia’s next game against Spain.