Luka Modrić presents Harry Kane with historic gift ahead of Croatia vs England

Luka Modrić presented Harry Kane with a special gift from the Croatian Football Federation ahead of Thursday’s Nations League meeting between Croatia and England at Wembley.

According to the Croatian Football Federation⁠, the presentation recognised Kane’s Ballon d’Or triumph and his achievement in becoming England’s all-time record appearance holder with 126 international caps.

Modrić, Croatia’s most-capped player and the country’s first Ballon d’Or winner, handed Kane a specially crafted replica of the first football brought to Croatia in 1880 by English industrialists in the town of Županja.

The gift symbolises the historic connection between the two nations, with the arrival of the ball marking the beginning of organised football in Croatia. The honour is particularly exclusive, as the only other recipient of the same gift was Pope Francis, who received one during a private audience in 2024.