Croatia's World Cup loss sparks talk of national team reforms as Modrić nears appearance record

After Croatia's 2-1 defeat to Portugal that ended its World Cup campaign, midfielder Mateo Kovačić broke down in tears, a scene described as symbolising the close of an era for the "Vatreni". The loss, Croatia's first knockout‑stage exit since 1998, has ignited calls for reforms within the national team structure. Veteran captain Luka Modrić, who could finish the tournament with 202 caps and 29 goals, is likely to see his international record end, joining the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in longevity.

The articles also note a rare football feat: only eleven players have won both the UEFA Champions League and the FIFA World Cup in the same season. The list includes Sepp Maier, Paul Breitner, Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Müller, Uli Hoeneß (1974), Christian Karembeu (1998), Roberto Carlos (2002), Raphaël Varane (2018) and Julian Álvarez (2022/23), among others. With the next World Cup approaching, clubs such as PSG, Manchester City and Bayern are sending dozens of players to the tournament, raising expectations that new members may join this exclusive group.