Two celestial bodies circle each other, a thousand cameras wait with bated breath, pausing for them to merge. As: Luka Modricdestroyed after a soul-crushing defeat that ended an exciting two-decade international career, acknowledged the aspirations of his Portuguese rivals, Cristiano Ronaldo did his usual handshake, relief written large on his face. The snickometer, a microchip on the ball, a technology introduced in Qatar 2022 but not the most commonly used tool, recently did not allow Croatia’s late equalizer in the biggest draw in the Round of 32 to help Portugal win the thriller 2-1 in Toronto.
Portugal vs. Croatia
Ronaldo: A penalty was converted beyond the hour mark before being substituted, and Goncalo Ramos’ header in injury time took Portugal to a thrilling Round of 16 meeting with old Iberian foes Spain, the European champions. But for now, it’s about Ronaldo and Modric. The ageless Croatian said before the World Cup that he would retire after the showpiece event. Katia Aveiro, sister of the indefatigable Portuguese, confirmed to everyone that this was the “last dance” of her brother. As the shadows of Ontario rose, the two masters, former club mates, now rivals, finally greeted each other after it had been won and lost. A hug, two words, a moment of appreciation for each other, it sums up all the years of hard work they put together. Ronaldo arrived at Real Madrid in 2009 and Modric joined four years later. Together they created a unit that won four Spanish clubs Champions League titles in five years.
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Modric is one of the main architects behind the incredible stardom that Ronaldo has continued to achieve over the years. The Croatian master probably did not always receive his share of honors; the high point came in 2018 when he beat Ronaldo for the Ballon d’Or after winning the Champions League and scripting a memorable World Cup campaign in which Croatia finished runners-up to France. Ronaldo, formerly of Juventus, probably believes he deserves the prize. But eight years later, on Thursday, bitterness, if any, seemed a thing of the past. For now, it’s a moment to enjoy the gentle light of the rest of the day. Modric, 40, has mostly played his part, pulling the strings for Croatia. From passes from deeper positions to whipping in crosses, he seems desperate to take this Croatian golden generation, now in its twilight, a step forward. But the ever-changing sports technology has a final call. A moment that could have been one of genuine joy now will forever be etched in Modric’s mind as the scar that finally brought the curtains down on a great career. When Josko Gvardiol bundled the ball in, the cameras immediately caught Ronaldo sitting on the sidelines. If the goal stands, he knows it will be very difficult for Portugal to pull it back in extra time. Croatia should have all the momentum in the world, and Portugal will have a hard time matching the tireless Croatians in midfield. In the coming week, the test will be even more intense, with a brilliant Spain standing in the way. Martinez has his plans on how to make the best use of the old master, who usually saves his best, remember the terrible hat-trick in 2018?, against the Spaniards. And a large part of the footballverse (which may also include old mate Modric) will be hoping Cristiano Ronaldo has one more dance left.