Making 100 caps (or more) for your country is still one of the biggest achievements in the game.

Even though it isn’t quite the pinnacle of the sport like it used to be, international football presents challenges and rewards unlike many other things in the modern game and players clearly value it very highly. Those who become centurions are held in special esteem.

It would be interesting to look back over this century’s international centurions and see how they compared to each other. We’ve come up with a top 10 and just see who are in it.

10. Diego Forlan

Uruguay

112 caps

36 goals

2011 Copa América winner

The fabulous Diego Forlan, the master of the Jabulani ball that so vexed the world’s top strikers in the 2010 World Cup. Forlan led Uruguay to an impressive fourth-placed finish and then did even better the next year; when he was the star of the show as La Celeste crushed everyone before them to win the 2011 Copa América. Forlan’s set-pieces and shooting were crucial to Uruguay’s triumph.

9. Cristiano Ronaldo

Portugal

164 caps

99 goals

Euro 2016, Nations League 2019 winner

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored more international goals than any other European ever has and he’s closing in on the world record too. He was a huge figure for Portugal (as much off the field as on it) as they won Euro 2016 and has matured into a great leader. The only reason he’s at the bottom of the list rather than near the top is because, bar one game against Spain, he’s been bland and forgettable at four World Cups.

8. Gianluigi Buffon

Italy

176 caps

0 goals

2006 World Cup winner

The anthem singing machine, Gigi Buffon has been an absolute legend and is the only currently active player on this list who was also playing as the century began. Buffon’s peak came in 2006 as he shut out five of seven opponents (conceding just twice; a own goal and a penalty) en route to winning the World Cup. Has played more games than any European ever has.

7. Bastian Schweinsteiger

Germany

121 caps

24 goals

2014 World Cup winner

Bastian Schweinsteiger began the century as a flying attacking midfielder or a winger. As time wore on, he matured and turned into a central midfield general, commanding the tempo of games with a serene assurance. Never was this more apparent than in 2014 when he orchestrated Germany’s World Cup win, including a 7-1 demolition against hosts Brazil.

6. Fabio Cannavaro

Italy

136 caps

2 goals

2006 World Cup winner

The iconic defender of this century, at least at international level. Cannavaro was somehow simultaneously the serene sweeper and the swashbuckling smasher at the back, carrying Marco Materazzi all the way to World Cup glory in 2006. The size of Cannavaro’s feat cannot be understated: the panic that set in when Alessandro Nesta got injured was palpable, but Italy never missed him and that was thanks to the tiny Italian. He was rewarded with the World Cup and a Ballon d’Or. Not bad.

5. Philipp Lahm

Germany

113 caps

5 goals

2014 World Cup winner

In terms of orthodox full-backs you couldn’t ask for a better example than Philipp Lahm. The German began life as a raiding left-back cutting in on his right-foot and causing havoc. He kicked off Germany’s great period with a storming goal to start the 2006 World Cup and then turned into a more comprehensively excellent right-back that ended that period by hoisting the 2014 World Cup aloft as captain.

4. Sergio Ramos

Spain

170 caps

21 goals

Euro 2008, 2010 World Cup, Euro 2012 winner

Sergio Ramos was Spain’s young buccaneer of a right-back as they romped to consecutive trophy wins in 2008 and 2010. He provided energy in attack, energy in defence, and a ferocious winning mentality. Then he morphed into a dynamic centre-back to help Spain to a hat-trick in 2012. Since then Ramos has been a boss at the back and is the only Euro 2008 veteran still active and has an eye-watering 170 caps. Closing in on Buffon’s record and don’t rule out him chasing Ahmed Hassan’s 184.

3. Andrés Iniesta

Spain

131 caps

13 goals

Euro 2008, 2010 World Cup, Euro 2012 winner

One of the most gifted midfielders to have ever played the game. Took the achievements of Zinedine Zidane in the previous decade and overshadowed them in almost every way. Effortlessly elegant at Euro 2008 and 2012, but it was at the 2010 World Cup where he shone brightest, dominating the final against the brutal Dutch side before scoring the tournament winning goal with a stunning strike.

2. Iker Casillas

Spain

167 caps

0 goals

Euro 2008, 2010 World Cup, Euro 2012 winner

Iker Casillas last conceded a goal in the knockout rounds of a major international tournament in 2006. He captained Spain all the way to the final of three consecutive tournaments and conceded just six goals along the way (and none in the crucial latter stages). A one-man brick wall and a man whose calm demeanour helped forge the greatest international side ever out of perhaps the most heated club rivalry of the century.

1. Xavi Hernandez

Spain

133 caps

2 goals

Euro 2008, 2010 World Cup, Euro 2012 winner

No international footballer has so thoroughly embodied the entire style of a nation and led to a genuine changing of the footballing world as Xavi. For four years between 2008 and 2012, Xavi dominated the club and international game with impeccable rhythm to the extent that the entire world’s perception of football is now different. Now that is what you call a legacy.