Croatia's World Cup Victory Over Panama Lauded by Thierry Henry

French football legend Thierry Henry praised Croatia after the national team secured a 1‑0 win against Panama in Toronto during the 2026 World Cup group stage. Henry recalled Croatia's historic run to the 1998 World Cup semi‑final, noting the country's small population of 3.9 million and its repeated success, including a bronze in 1998, a silver in 2018 and another bronze in 2022. He described the team as "proud and brave, never easy to play against."

The match saw Ante Budimir score the decisive goal, putting Croatia in a position to advance to the second round. Captain Luka Modrić earned his 200th international cap, joining an elite group of players with at least 200 appearances.

Henry's comments highlighted Croatia's football heritage and the team's resilience on the world stage.