Croatia and Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric has drawn level with Cristiano Ronaldo on a record-breaking number of Euros appearances, but he may only stand alongside his Portuguese foe for a matter of days.
Fresh from becoming a Champions League winner for the sixth time as a Blancos player, Modric was unsurprisingly named in the Croatian starting lineup for their opening Euro 2024 Group B battle with Spain on Saturday.
The affair was a chastening one for Modric and his fellow Chequered Ones, though, as one year on from going down to Spain in the Nations League final, they succumbed to a 3-0 loss at the Olympiastadion.
Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz and Dani Carvajal put Croatia to the sword before the half-time whistle sounded, and salt was rubbed into the wounds of Zlatko Dalic's side when Bruno Petkovic missed a penalty and was denied a follow-up consolation for encroachment.
As a result, the 2018 World Cup runners-up are already languishing at the bottom of their Euros section, three points adrift of Spain and reigning champions Italy, while sitting beneath Albania on goal difference.
Modric admitted that his side were outplayed in Berlin and implored his teammates to move on quickly, but the occasion was still a landmark one at an individual level for the veteran midfielder.
© Reuters
Modric level with Ronaldo on five Euros appearances
By turning out for his nation at the Olympiastadion - where he played 65 minutes as captain - Modric appeared at his fifth different Euros tournament, having also competed at the 2008, 2012, 2016 and delayed Euro 2020 editions.
As a result, the ex-Tottenham Hotspur lynchpin is now just one of two men to appear at a quintet of European Championships alongside Ronaldo, who has been present at the 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020 tournaments.
However, Modric will presumably only be the joint-record holder for a couple of days, as his former Real Madrid teammate was summoned to the Portugal squad and is expected to play a starring role at the age of 39.
Portugal kick off their quest for Euro 2024 glory on Tuesday night when they tackle the Czech Republic, where if Ronaldo plays, the Al-Nassr forward will feature in an unrivalled sixth Euros tournament.
Furthermore, Modric may no longer be in a club of his own on five Euros appearances, as long-serving Portugal defender Pepe has played in four different tournaments and is in line to feature in his fifth in a couple of days' time.
Modric's early withdrawal on Saturday raised fears of a possible injury, but Dalic explained that his substitution was tactical as Croatia prepare to go again on Wednesday afternoon against Albania.
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