A Croatian has won the Champions League for 10 successive seasons

Real Madrid’s victory over Liverpool in the Champions League final has helped Croatia maintain a unique record in the competition, which first started in 2013. The 1-0 victory for the Spanish giants has ensured that a Croatian player has received the Champions League winners medal for ten years in a row. The latest was Madrid’s midfield maestro Luka Modric and the first one to do so was Mario Mandzukic for Bayern Munich in 2013 final. Since Mandzukic got his hands on the trophy, a Croatian player has won the winners medal in the famous European competition every year until now.

Croatia’s rise in football

Croatia, with a population of only about four million people, has slowly but surely begun to make its impact on European football. The number of players from the country being signed by Europe’s top clubs has surged in recent years. As a country, they have started to produce more quality footballers who have become vital parts of several teams. Notably, Croatia as an entire nation benefitted immensely during the 2018 World Cup. Against the odds, they incredibly reached the final in Russia before losing to France. Not long after, Modric won the coveted Ballon d’Or – the first Croatian to win the prestigious award.

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The recent decade has undoubtedly been the best era for Croatian football

Their rise in world football has been cemented by this unique record they have managed in the Champions League. Croatia’s individual players, as well as the country as a whole, have continued to punch above their weight in recent years. Modric has been consistently bringing glory for the country with Real Madrid but there are also other footballers from the tiny nation who have also been playing an important role for their respective clubs.

Who are the Croatian Champions League winners in the last decade?

It all started with Mario Mandzukic winning the 2013 final with Bayern Munich against Borussia Dortmund. Coincidentally, this run started against Jurgen Klopp’s side in 2013 and the latest one was also achieved against a Klopp-managed team in Liverpool. Modric has won it five times – all of it with Real Madrid. Meanwhile, Mateo Kovacic has won it four times – thrice with Madrid and once with Chelsea last year. The others are Ivan Rakitic with Barcelona, Dejan Lovren with Liverpool and Ivan Perisic for Bayern Munich.