Billy Wright

Billy Wright of England and Wolverhampton Wanderers became the first footballer in the world to earn 100 international caps, a milestone he reached in 1959 that established the longevity benchmark against which all subsequent record-holders are measured. Luka Modric's achievement of 200 caps for Croatia on 23 June 2026 sits in a direct historical line from Wright's pioneering century.

Wright was Born in 1924 in Ironbridge, Shropshire, and spent his entire playing career at Wolverhampton Wanderers, captaining the club to three First Division titles in the 1950s. He captained England 90 times in 105 international appearances, an extraordinary record of consistency and leadership. He was a central defender who combined physical and organisational qualities and was the dominant presence in the England defence during the immediate post-war era.

Wright was named FWA Footballer of the Year in 1952 and was one of the first inductees into the English Football Hall of Fame. He died in 1994. His 100-cap record stood as an almost inconceivable achievement for decades and remains a foundational reference point whenever international appearance records are discussed, including Modric's doubling of that figure against Panama.