Portugal and Croatia star in one of the most attractive matches of the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup. Face to face will be Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modrić, two legends who marked an era at Real Madrid and who now seek to keep their teams’ World Cup dream alive.
The duel at the Toronto Stadium pits two of the most influential footballers of the last decade against one another. Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modrić shared a dressing room at Real Madrid between 2012 and 2018, where they built one of the most successful partnerships in European football.
During that period they won some of the most important titles in the recent history of the white club, including four UEFA Champions Leagues, three Club World Cups, three European Super Cups, two Spanish Leagues, two Copas del Rey and two Spanish Super Cups.
After Cristiano left for Juventus in 2018, their paths separated, but both maintained their prominence in the elite of international football.
Two captains, two paths to history
With their national teams, Ronaldo and Modrić have also left an indelible mark, although with different paths.
Cristiano Ronaldo led Portugal to the first major titles in its history by winning the 2016 Euro Cup and the UEFA Nations League in 2019. In addition, he became the first men’s footballer to score goals in six World Cups.
Modrić, for his part, led Croatia’s best period since its independence. He was the captain of the team that reached the runners-up position in Russia 2018, a tournament in which he received the Ballon d’Or, and he returned to the podium with the third place obtained in Qatar 2022.
Validity at 40 years
Despite the passage of time, both continue to compete at the highest level.
Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, continues to be the main figure of Al-Nassr, from Saudi Arabia, while Luka Modrić, 40, began a new stage at AC Milan after ending a historic career of 13 seasons and 28 titles with Real Madrid.
Their presence in the 2026 World Cup confirms the longevity of two footballers who have managed to remain among the elite for more than two decades.
A match with a farewell flavor
Beyond the ticket to the round of 16, the confrontation between Portugal and Croatia could represent the last time that Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modrić face each other in a World Cup.
After sharing some of Real Madrid’s greatest successes, they now have to compete as rivals in a match that will define which of the two continues in the fight for the title and which ends its participation in the 2026 World Cup.