With yesterday’s win over the Faroe Islands, Croatia secured direct qualification for the World Cup after a qualifying campaign that also featured the Czech Republic. For 40-year-old Luka Modrić, this means the chance to appear at his fifth World Cup – a mark which, as of today, stands as a record in this tournament.

Only six players in history have been called up for five World Cups and have played at each of them: Antonio Carbajal (Mexico), Andrés Guardado (Mexico), Lothar Matthäus (Germany), Rafael Márquez (Mexico), Leo Messi (Argentina) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal). In addition, Gianluigi Buffon (Italy) and Guillermo Ochoa (Mexico) have been selected for five tournaments, but did not feature in all of them.

The Real Madrid legend therefore has a strong chance of joining a very exclusive club – although, as things stand, everything suggests that Messi and Cristiano will push the record out to six World Cups with six appearances. Matching that feat would require playing for the national team for at least 20 years, which underlines just how extraordinary this achievement is. There is also speculation that Guillermo Ochoa will go on to play at his sixth World Cup.