Croatia World Cup 2026 Squad Quotes — Luka Modrić, Joško Gvardiol & Mateo Kovačić's Last Dance
No nation of four million people has ever punched above its weight in football like Croatia. Since independence, the "Vatreni" have finished third at their first World Cup in 1998 (with Davor Šuker winning the Golden Boot), reached the final in 2018 and taken third place again in 2022. At the heart of the last decade of miracles stands Luka Modrić — the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner who, at 40 years old and now wearing AC Milan colours, captained his country at a fifth World Cup at the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, flanked by Joško Gvardiol, Mateo Kovačić and coach Zlatko Dalić's famously unbreakable team spirit.
Croatia's 2026 campaign delivered drama to the very last minute. In Group L they lost a spectacular opener 4-2 to England, then beat Panama 1-0 and Ghana 2-1 to advance as runners-up with six points. The Round of 32 brought a headline duel with Portugal — Modrić against Cristiano Ronaldo — at BMO Field in Toronto on July 2. Croatia pushed the Euro 2024 finalists all the way, but Gonçalo Ramos's header in the 94th minute sealed a 2-1 Portugal win and ended the Vatreni's tournament. At the time of writing (early July 2026), the Round of 16 continues without Croatia — yet Modrić's fifth World Cup, at an age when most players are long retired, already belongs to football legend.
Croatia's 2026 World Cup Squad — The Regular Starting XI and Key Players
| Position | Player | Club (2026) | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Dominik Livaković | Dinamo Zagreb | Hero of the 2022 penalty shootouts |
| CB | Josip Stanišić | Bayern Munich | Right of the back three |
| CB | Joško Gvardiol | Manchester City | Defensive anchor, revelation of Qatar 2022 |
| CB | Josip Šutalo | Ajax | Ball-playing centre-back |
| CB | Marin Pongračić | Fiorentina | Physical depth in defence |
| CM | Luka Modrić (C) | AC Milan | Captain, 2018 Ballon d'Or, fifth World Cup at 40 |
| CM | Mateo Kovačić | Manchester City | Press-resistant carrier |
| CM | Petar Sučić | Inter Milan | The next generation in midfield |
| AM | Mario Pašalić | Atalanta | Goal threat from the second line |
| AM | Nikola Vlašić | Torino | Creativity between the lines |
| LW/WB | Ivan Perišić | PSV Eindhoven | Veteran of every great Croatian run since 2014 |
| FW | Andrej Kramarić | Hoffenheim | Clever movement and finishing |
| ST | Ante Budimir | Osasuna | Target man, aerial threat |
| AM | Martin Baturina | Como | Modrić's heir apparent |
Zlatko Dalić set his 2026 side up in a 3-4-2-1, with Gvardiol marshalling the back three and Modrić still dictating tempo in his 20th year of international football. Dalić deliberately blended the golden generation with young stars such as Petar Sučić, Martin Baturina and teenage defender Luka Vušković (Hamburger SV).
Quotes from Croatia's Stars and Legends
Few small nations have produced so many words worth remembering. From Modrić's quiet defiance to Boban's fire, these documented quotes explain the Croatian football soul.
"We proved everything was different to what people were saying — especially English journalists and television pundits... They underestimated Croatia tonight and that was a huge mistake."
Luka Modrić — Source: post-match interview after Croatia beat England 2-1 in the 2018 World Cup semi-final, July 2018. The quietest superstar in football delivered the tournament's sharpest rebuke.
"As a kid, we all have dreams. My dream was to play for a big club, to win important trophies. I dreamed about it, but the Ballon d'Or was more than a childhood dream for me and it's a real honour and a privilege to hold this trophy tonight."
Luka Modrić — Source: Ballon d'Or acceptance speech, Paris, December 2018. Modrić became the first player other than Messi or Ronaldo to win the award in a decade.
"I am happy that someone normal is able to win the Ballon d'Or. There's a saying that the best things in life don't come easily and I believe that. My life has been based on fighting and on achieving objectives through hard work."
Luka Modrić — Source: comments after receiving the 2018 Ballon d'Or, December 2018. A boy who grew up as a wartime refugee in Zadar, tending goats on a mountainside, ended up the best player in the world.
"Here I was, a public face prepared to risk his life, career and everything that fame could have brought, all because of one ideal, one cause: the Croatian cause."
Zvonimir Boban — Source: Boban's later reflections on the Maksimir Stadium riot of May 1990, when, as Dinamo Zagreb captain, he defended a fan against police. The moment became a founding legend of Croatian football identity.
"We are a small country but we have a big dream."
Zlatko Dalić — Source: press comments during Croatia's third-place run at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The sentence has become the standing motto of the Dalić era.
"I want to thank the coach of Canada for the motivation. In the end, Croatia demonstrated who f***ed whom."
Andrej Kramarić — Source: post-match press conference after Croatia beat Canada 4-1 at the 2022 World Cup, November 2022 — a pointed reply to Canada coach John Herdman's pre-match vow. Kramarić had scored twice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Croatia at the 2026 World Cup
Who is Croatia's captain at the 2026 World Cup?
Luka Modrić, the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner now playing for AC Milan, captained Croatia at the 2026 World Cup. At 40, it was his fifth World Cup — a record of longevity almost without parallel among outfield players. Head coach Zlatko Dalić has led Croatia since 2017, guiding them to the 2018 final and third place in 2022.
How far did Croatia go at the 2026 World Cup?
Croatia finished second in Group L with six points (a 4-2 loss to England, then wins over Panama 1-0 and Ghana 2-1) and reached the Round of 32. There, on July 2, 2026 in Toronto, they lost 2-1 to Portugal, with Gonçalo Ramos scoring the winner in the 94th minute. Croatia's best World Cup results remain the 2018 final and third place in 1998 and 2022.
What is Luka Modrić's most famous quote?
Modrić's most quoted line came after Croatia beat England in the 2018 World Cup semi-final: "They underestimated Croatia tonight and that was a huge mistake." His Ballon d'Or reflection is equally loved: "I am happy that someone normal is able to win the Ballon d'Or... My life has been based on fighting and on achieving objectives through hard work."
Related Quote Collections
- Luka Modrić Quotes
- World Cup 2026 Quotes Hub — Every team, every voice of the tournament
- Switzerland World Cup 2026 Quotes — Xhaka and Kobel's history-making Nati
- Austria World Cup 2026 Quotes — Alaba, Arnautović and Rangnick's pressing machine
- Norway World Cup 2026 Quotes — Haaland and Ødegaard end a 28-year wait
- Cristiano Ronaldo Quotes — The rival who ended Croatia's 2026 run
- Lionel Messi Quotes — Humility and greatness