Croatia are perhaps the most unlikely World Cup finalists ever.
Not because they lacked quality or talent but because of the size and population of the country that only became independent in 1991.
With less than four million people, they are just behind the Netherlands (size) and Uruguay (population) as the smallest to make it all the way to the final.
Zlatko Dalic’s brilliant side topped their group in 2018 with three wins from three including a 3-0 rout of Argentina, before beating both hosts Russia and fellow dark horses Denmark on penalties.
Their comeback semi-final win over England was the stuff of legend setting up a showdown with a formidable France, who proved to be just too much.
Where are those heroes of the 2018 final now? Let’s take a look at the 13 players who were part of Croatian sport’s biggest moment.
Danijel Subasic
- Position: Goalkeeper
- Age: 41
The 2018 World Cup final proved to be Danijel Subasic’s last game for Croatia. The goalkeeper retired from international duty after the final.
He soon lost his position as first-choice goalkeeper at Monaco, where he had been a stalwart for much of the decade. He retured to Hadjuk Split for his final few seasons before retiring.
Subasic is now back involved with the Croatian national team, as goalkeeping coach.
Sime Vrsaljko
- Position: Defender
- Age: 34
Sime Vrsaljko was one of the most impressive full-backs in Europe at the time of the tournament but his career soon declined largely due to injuries.
He was sent out on loan to Inter Milan from Atletico after the World Cup but suffered a serious knee injury just 13 appearances into his return to Italy.
The 52-time captained defender retired in 2023 after a spell with Olympiacos. He played his final game for Croatia in the summer of 2022.
Dejan Lovren
- Position: Defender
- Age: 36
Dejan Lovren made history in the years after the World Cup, becoming the first Croat to win the Premier League in 2020 just a year after he lifted the Champions League.
He departed Liverpool after that title success for Zenit St-Petersburg, but returned to Lyon in January 2023. He spent 18 months in France before moving to current club PAOK. Lovren last played for Croatia in 2022, and announced his retirement in 2023 after 78 caps.
Domagoj Vida
- Position: Goalkeeper
- Age: 36
Like Lovren, Domagoj Vida now plays in the Greek Super League, having joined AEK Athens from Besiktas in 2022.
Renowned as much for his striking blonde ponytail look as his defensive abilities, the centre-back has enjoyed an impressive career winning over 100 caps for his country and titles in Croatia, Turkey and Greece.
He won his last cap in 2024 and is unlikely to be involved this summer.
Ivan Strinic
- Position: Defender
- Age: 38
Having missed out on the 2014 World Cup with injuries, Ivan Strinic made his final mark for Croatia in Russia, starting six of their seven games.
A move to AC Milan had been arranged for after the tournament but he was soon diagnosed with a heart condition that brought about a sad end to a fine career.
Ivan Rakitic
- Position: Midfielder
- Age: 37
An integral part of brilliant midfields with both club and country, Ivan Rakitic picked up his fourth La Liga title in the season after the World Cup prior to a return to Sevilla in 2020.
With the Andalusians, he won a second Europa League crown and went past the 400 appearance mark in Spain’s top flight.
He played his final season in Croatian football with Hadjuk Split where is now technical director.
Marcelo Brozovic
- Position: Midfielder
- Age: 33
The least heralded of the midfield triumvirate through no fault of his own, Marcelo Brozovic has had a brilliant career at both club and international level.
Following the World Cup, he began to win trophies with Inter under both Antonio Conte and Simone Inzaghi including two Serie A titles.
He departed the San Siro in 2023 after over 300 appearances for the riches of Saudi Arabia, where he plays for Al Nassr alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. On 99 Croatian caps, could Brozovic bring up the century this summer?
Luka Modric
- Position: Midfielder
- Age: 40
Undoubtedly the greatest sportsman in Croatian history and one of the finest players of the 21st century, Luka Modric’s heroics at the tournament saw him pick up the 2018 Ballon d’Or, breaking the duopoly of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
He followed that up by winning two more Champions League titles – making it a joint-record six alongside Dani Carvajal, before waving goodbye to Madrid in 2025.
At 40, he is still starring for AC Milan and will captain Croatia at his fifth World Cup this summer.
Ante Rebic
- Position: Winger
- Age: 32
The great hope of Croatian football in the mid-2010s, Ante Rebic’s career has not quite gone to plans since his starting role in the 2018 final.
After two excellent seasons with Milan after joining the Rossoneri from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2019, injuries began to plague the winger and he has not played for the national team since 2021.
He did still pick up a Scudetto title in 2021-22 though.
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Ivan Perisic
- Position: Winger
- Age: 37
One of the biggest “big game” players of his generation, Ivan Perisic more than made his mark in Russia scoring equalisers in both the semi-final and final in Russia.
In fact, no player has more goal contributions (18) than the PSV winger, who has 150 caps for his country and will play at another World Cup this summer.
At club level, he won the treble with Bayern Munich in 2019/20 and the Serie A title the next season with Inter. Not bad.
Mario Mandzukic
- Position: Forward
- Age: 39
One of only 18 players to score in two European Cup finals and the scorer of the most famous goal in Croatian history against England in the semi-final, Mario Mandzukic made even more history against France.
The former Bayern and Juventus hitman rather surprisingly became the first player to score an own goal in a World Cup final and then followed it up with another first by scoring at the right end.
Mandzukic retired from international football after the tournament before returning to the national team as an assistant coach from 2021 to 2024.
Andrej Kramaric
- Position: Forward
- Age: 34
A certified legend for both Croatia and Hoffenheim, Andrej Kramaric has several records to his name as of January 2026.
He is both the Croatian player with the most professional goals in the post-independence era and the Croatian player with the most Bundesliga goals and appearances.
A sub in the 2018 final, Kramaric continues to star with 112 caps and counting.
Marko Pjaca
- Position: Forward
- Age: 30
Marko Pjaca was another bright hope for the future but like Rebic, injuries have hampered his career.
A Juventus player at the time of the 2018 final – where he came off the bench late on – he was sent out on a series of loans after the tournament but struggled for consistent game time.
Following a short return to the Croatian league, he now plays for Twente in the Eredivisie.
