As the two celestial bodies orbited each other, a thousand cameras paused with bated breath, waiting for them to come together. as Luka ModricHe acknowledged his Portuguese rivals’ wishes after a heartbreaking defeat ended a brilliant two-decade international career, cristiano ronaldo He shook hands as usual, relief written all over his face. A ball tester with a microchip inside the ball, a technology introduced at the 2022 Qatar Olympics but not the most commonly used tool, has just prevented Croatia’s late equalizer in the biggest draw of the last 32, helping Portugal win the thrilling game 2-1 in Toronto.
Portugal vs Croatia
ronaldo Portugal scored a penalty before being substituted just after the hour mark, and Goncalo Ramos’ header in injury time helped Portugal advance to the last 16 for a mouth-watering clash with their old Iberian rivals, European champions Spain. But now, the focus is on Ronaldo and Modric. The ageless Croatian said before the World Cup that he would retire after the World Cup. Katia Aveiro, the sister of the indefatigable Portuguese, has all but confirmed it will be her brother’s “last dance”. As the shadow of Ontario lengthened, the two masters, former teammates and current rivals, finally greeted each other after victory or defeat. A hug, a few words, and a moment of mutual appreciation summed up their shared hardships over the years. Ronaldo joined Real Madrid in 2009, and Modric joined four years later. Together they built a team that won the legendary Spanish club’s top four Champions League title within five years.
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Modric was one of the main architects of Ronaldo’s incredible stardom during those years. The Croatian maestro may not always get the praise he deserves. The peak came in 2018, when he beat Ronaldo for the Ballon d’Or after winning the Champions League and produced a memorable performance at the World Cup, where Croatia finished runners-up to France. Ronaldo, who was playing for Juventus at the time, may have thought he deserved the award. But eight years later on Thursday, that pain, if any, seemed to be a thing of the past. Now, it’s time to bask in the soft sunshine for the rest of the day. Modric, 40, typically played his part in pulling the strings for Croatia. From passing balls to crosses from deeper positions, he seemed desperate to take this twilight Croatian golden generation further. But changing technology in sports is the ultimate arbiter. What could have been a moment of genuine joy will now forever be etched in Modric’s mind, a scar that ultimately brought the curtain down on an illustrious career. When Guardiol passed the ball into the goal, the cameras immediately captured Ronaldo sitting on the sidelines. If the goal had stood, he knew it would be difficult for Portugal to pull a goal back in extra time. Croatia will have all the motivation in the world and Portugal will struggle to match a tireless Croatian side in the midfield. The test will get even tougher in the coming week, with a superb Spain standing in the way. Martinez will have his plans on how to get the most out of the old master, who usually does his best, remember that wonderful hat-trick against Espanyol in 2018? A large part of the football world (probably including old friend Modric) hopes Cristiano Ronaldo can dance one more time.
