Croatian player in Champions League Final for 11th year in a row

Luka Modrić

Real Madrid’s amazing come from behind win last night over Manchester City means that Croatia will have a player in the UEFA Champions League final for the 11th year in a row.

Luka Modrić will be playing in his 5th Champions League final when Real Madrid face Liverpool on 28 May in Paris. Modrić will also be chasing his fifth title. 

Ivica Olić, current assistant coach of Croatia, started the incredible run of Croatians in the Champions League final back in 2012. 

Croatians in the Champions League Final 

2012 – Ivica Olić (Bayern Munich)

2013 – Mario Mandžukić (Bayern Munich)

2014 – Luka Modrić (Real Madrid)

2015 – Ivan Rakitić (Barcelona)

2016 – Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovačić (Real Madrid)

2017 – Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovačić (Real Madrid), Mario Mandžukić (Juventus)

2018 – Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovačić (Real Madrid), Dejan Lovren (Liverpool)

2019 – Dejan Lovren (Liverpool)

2020 – Ivan Perišić (Bayern Munich)

2021 –  Mateo Kovačić (Chelsea)

A Croatian player also has won the title for the last nine years in a row. 

Mario Mandžukic scored in the final against Borussia Dortmund to help Bayern Munich secure the title back in 2013. 

The following season Luka Modrić won his first Champions League with Real Madrid, followed by Ivan Rakitić with Barcelona the next season. In 2016, 2017, and 2018, Modrić and Kovačić claimed the trophy with Real Madrid. Dejan Lovren won it with Liverpool in 2019, Ivan Perišić lifted the trophy for Bayern in 2020 and Kovačić won it with Chelsea last season.