All-Time Croatia National Team Best XI (Modric, Suker, Rakitic, Srna)

All-time Croatia best XI – Croatia national team is formed in 1991 after its secession from Yugoslavia. Despite only formed in 90s, Croatia always become dark horse in every major tournament, even reaching World Cup final once and semifinal in other two occassions. They have quality players in every positions.

Croatia best performance in international football is reaching 2018 World Cup final. They also manage to finish in third-place twice (1998, 2022). In the continental tournament, their best performance is quarter final in 3 UEFA Euro edition (1996, 2004, 2012). Croatia also become runner-up in UEFA Nations League 2022-23.

After its admission into FIFA in 1994, Croatia shock the world to reach 1996 Euro quarter final and finish third-place in 1998 World Cup. Davor Suker finish as World Cup top goalscorers, while other player who shine in this era are Robert Prosinecki, Zvonimir Boban, Dario Simic, Robert Jarni and Drazen Ladic. They are part of first golden generation of Croatia.

Their second golden generation are even better. Croatia manage to reach World Cup final 2018, lose to France in final. They also finish in third-place in 2022 World Cup, lose to eventual champions Argentina in semifinal. Luka Modric are key figures in both tournament, finish as tournament’s overall best player in 2018 and tournament’s third best player in 2022.

Beside Modric, others player who contribute to Croatia success in recent years are Ivan Perisic, Marcelo Brozovic, Mateo Kovacic, Ivan Rakitic, Dejan Lovren, Danijel Subasic, Dominik Livakovic, Domagoj Vida and Andrej Kramaric. They also finish as runner-up in UEFA Nations League 2022-23, lose to Spain in final.

Before the 90s, Croatia are part of Yugoslavia country. There are some Croatian-born players who are part of Yugoslavia national team, such as Vladimir Beara, Ivica Horvat, Zlatko Cajkovski, Branko Zebec and Bernard Vukas. They are represent Yugoslavia, but still considered as Croatian legends too.

All-Time Croatia Best XI

Of course it’s hard to select 11 of best Croatia players of all time in each position. Below is our selection of all-time Croatia national team best XI.

GOALKEEPER

1. Vladimir Beara

Date of birth : 26 August 1928
Position : Goalkeeper
Caps / goals : 59 caps / 0 goal*
Club career :

• 1947-1955 – Hajduk Split (Croatia)
• 1955-1960 – Red Star Belgrade (Serbia)
• 1960-1963 – Alemannia Aachen (Germany)
• 1963-1964 – Viktoria Koln (Germany)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 1950, 1954, 1958

Substitutes :

• Danijel Subasic (2009-2018), 44 caps
• Stipe Pletikosa (1999-2014), 114 caps
• Drazen Ladic (1990-2000), 59 caps
• Dominik Livakovic (2017-current), 45 caps

DEFENDER

2. Robert Kovac

Date of birth : 6 April 1974
Position : Center-back
Caps / goals : 84 caps / 0 goal
Club career :

• 1991-1995 – Hertha Zehlendorf (Germany)
• 1995-1996 – Nurnberg (Germany)
• 1996-2001 – Bayer Leverkusen (Germany)
• 2001-2005 – Bayern Munchen (Germany)
• 2005-2007 – Juventus (Italy)
• 2007-2008 – Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
• 2009-2010 – Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 2002, 2006
• UEFA Euro 2004, 2008

3. Ivica Horvat

Date of birth : 16 July 1926
Position : Center-back
Caps / goals : 60 caps / 0 goal*
Club career :

• 1945-1957 – Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia)
• 1957-1961 – Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 1950, 1954

4. Darijo Srna

Date of birth : 1 May 1982
Position : Right-back
Caps / goals : 134 caps / 22 goals
Club career :

• 1999-2003 – Hajduk Split (Croatia)
• 2003-2018 – Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine)
• 2018-2019 – Cagliari (Italy)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 2006, 2014
• UEFA Euro 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016

5. Robert Jarni

Date of birth : 26 October 1968
Position : Left-back, winger
Caps / goals : 80 caps / 1 goal
Club career :

• 1986-1991 – Hajduk Split (Croatia)
• 1991-1993 – Bari (Italy)
• 1993-1994 – Torino (Italy)
• 1994-1995 – Juventus (Italy)
• 1995-1998 – Real Betis (Spain)
• 1998 – Coventry City (England)
• 1998-1999 – Real Madrid (Spain)
• 1999-2001 – Las Palmas (Spain)
• 2001-2002 – Panathinaikos (Greece)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 1990, 1998, 2002
• UEFA Euro 1996

Substitutes :

• Igor Tudor (1997-2006), 55 caps, 3 goals
• Dejan Lovren (2009-current), 78 caps, 5 goals
• Slaven Bilic (1992-1999), 44 caps, 3 goals
• Dario Simic (1996-2008), 100 caps, 3 goals
• Igor Stimac (1990-2002), 53 caps, 2 goals
• Domagoj Vida (2010-current), 101 caps, 4 goals
• Josko Gvardiol (2021-current), 21 caps, 2 goals
• Josip Simunic (2001-2013), 105 caps, 3 goals
• Vedran Corluka (2006-2018), 103 caps, 4 golas
• Sime Vrsaljko (2011-2022), 52 caps, 0 goal
• Branko Zebec (1951-1961), 65 caps, 17 goals*

MIDFIELDER

6. Ivan Rakitic

Date of birth : 10 March 1988
Position : Midfielder
Caps / goals : 106 caps / 15 goals
Club career :

• 2005-2007 – Basel (Switzerland)
• 2007-2011 – Schalke (Germany)
• 2011-2014 – Sevilla (Spain)
• 2014-2020 – Barcelona (Spain)
• 2020-current- Sevilla (Spain)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 2014, 2018
• UEFA Euro 2008, 2012, 2016

7. Luka Modric

Date of birth : 9 September 1985
Position : Midfielder
Caps / goals : 166 caps / 24 goals
Club career :

• 2003-2008 – Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia)
• 2003-2004 – Zrinjski Mostar (Croatia) (loan)
• 2004-2005 – Inter Zapresic (Croatia) (loan)
• 2008-2012 – Tottenham Hotspur (England)
• 2012-current- Real Madrid (Spain)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022
• UEFA Euro 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020
• UEFA Nations League 2023

8. Ivan Perisic

Date of birth : 2 February 1989
Position : Winger, wing-back
Caps / goals : 127 caps / 33 goals
Club career :

• 2007-2009 – Sochaux II (France)
• 2009 – Roeselare (Belgium) (loan)
• 2009-2011 – Club Brugge (Belgium)
• 2011-2013 – Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
• 2013-2015 – Wolfsburg (Germany)
• 2015-2022 – Inter Milan (Italy)
• 2022-current – Tottenham Hotspur (England)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 2014, 2018, 2022
• UEFA Euro 2012, 2016, 2020
• UEFA Nations League 2023

9. Zvonimir Boban

Date of birth : 8 October 1968
Position : Attacking midfielder
Caps / goals : 49 caps / 12 goals
Club career :

• 1985-1991 – Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia)
• 1991-2001 – AC Milan (Italy)
• 1991-1992 – Bari (Italy) (loan)
• 2001 – Celta Vigo (Spain) (loan)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 1998
• UEFA Euro 1996

Substitutes :

• Zlatko Cajkovski (1946-1955), 55 caps, 7 goals*
• Niko Kovac (1996-2008), 83 caps, 14 goals
• Ante Zanetic (1959-1960), 15 caps, 2 goals*
• Marcelo Brozovic (2014-current), 87 caps, 7 goals
• Zeljko Perusic (1959-1964), 27 caps, 0 goals*
• Mateo Kovacic (2013-current), 95 caps, 5 goals
• Aljosa Asanovic (1990-2002), 62 caps, 3 goals
• Niko Kranjcar (2004-2013), 81 caps, 16 goals
• Robert Prosinecki (1989-2002), 64 caps, 14 goals
• Jurica Jerkovic (1970-1982), 43 caps, 6 goals*

FORWARD

10. Davor Suker

Date of birth : 1 January 1968
Position : Striker
Caps / goals : 69 caps / 45 goal
Club career :

• 1984-1989 – Osijek (Croatia)
• 1989-1991 – Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia)
• 1991-1996 – Sevilla (Spain)
• 1996-1999 – Real Madrid (Spain)
• 1999-2000 – Arsenal (England)
• 2000-2001 – West Ham (England)
• 2001-2003 – 1860 Munich (Germany)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 1990, 1998, 2002
• UEFA Euro 1996

11. Mario Mandzukic

Date of birth : 21 May 1986
Position : Forward
Caps / goals : 89 caps / 33 goal
Club career :

• 2004-2005 – Marsonia (Croatia)
• 2005-2007 – NK Zagreb (Croatia)
• 2007-2010 – Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia)
• 2010-2012 – Wolfsburg (Germany)
• 2012-2014 – Bayern Munchen (Germany)
• 2014-2015 – Atletico Madrid (Spain)
• 2015-2019 – Juventus (Italy)
• 2019-2020 – Al-Duhail (Qatar)
• 2021 – AC Milan (Italy)

Major tournament participations :

• FIFA World Cup 2014, 2018
• UEFA Euro 2012, 2016

Substitutes :

• Ivica Olic (2002-2015), 104 caps, 20 goals
• Alen Boksic (1993-2002), 40 caps, 10 goals
• Bernard Vukas (1948-1957), 59 caps, 22 goals*
• Stjepan Bobek (1946-1956), 63 caps, 38 goals*
• Josip Skoblar (1958-1967), 32 caps, 11 goals*
• Andrej Kramaric (2014-current), 85 caps, 24 goals
• Eduardo da Silva (2004-2014), 64 caps, 29 goals

(*caps with Yugoslavia national team before Croatia national team formed)

Croatia National Team All-Time Best XI

That’s our pick for 11 of greatest Croatian players of all time in each position. What do you think? Write down your pick in comment below.