Following Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Croatia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32, Cristiano Ronaldo discussed his interaction with long-time peer Luka Modric. Portugal advanced to the next stage after overturning an early deficit.
Ivan Perisic initially gave the 2018 finalists the lead in the 53rd minute. However, Ronaldo leveled the score via a 68th-minute penalty, securing his inaugural knockout-round goal in World Cup history. Goncalo Ramos subsequently netted the winning goal with a header in the 94th minute. Although Josko Gvardiol appeared to score an equalizer for Croatia during stoppage time, the goal was ruled out due to an offside violation.
Reflecting on his conversation with his former Real Madrid partner, Ronaldo noted his admiration for Modric’s enduring performance at an elite level. As reported by Fabrizio Romano, the Portuguese captain stated that he commended Modric on his performance and offered well wishes for the remainder of his playing career.
