Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo, two of international football's most enduring figures, are set to reunite on the World Cup stage as Croatia faces Portugal in the last 32. Modric, 40, will earn his 202nd cap for Croatia, while Ronaldo, 41, will make his 232nd appearance for Portugal. The match, hosted in Toronto, could be the final time these giants of 21st-century football share a pitch after careers that have intertwined as both opponents and teammates.
A Shared History Spanning Nearly Two Decades
Modric made his debut for Croatia on 1 March 2006, a 3-2 victory over Argentina in which Lionel Messi scored his first international goal. That same evening, Ronaldo scored twice in a 3-0 Portugal win against Saudi Arabia. Since then, both players have amassed over 200 caps, joining an elite group that includes only four men in football history. The other member of the 200-cap club is Ahmed Hassan of Egypt, with 184 caps.
Their commitment to international football has been remarkable. When Modric debuted, Ronaldo already had 29 caps. Nearly 20 years later, the gap has only widened by one cap. Both have consistently answered their countries' calls, playing at near-parallel rates throughout their careers.
Club and International Rivalries
Their paths first crossed in the 2008-09 Carling Cup final, where Manchester United beat Tottenham on penalties, with both players featuring for the full 90 minutes. They later met in the 2010-11 Champions League quarter-finals after Ronaldo moved to Real Madrid. The pair spent six seasons together at Real Madrid, winning the Champions League four times and reaching the semi-finals in the other two campaigns.
According to Opta, the pinnacle of their partnership came in the 2017 Champions League final, when Modric cut the ball back for Ronaldo to score against Juventus, making it 3-1. That assist was one of 222 matches they shared on the pitch, making Modric the central midfielder with whom Ronaldo has played most frequently.
Croatia’s Chance to Snap Portugal’s Streak
Portugal has won all four previous international meetings between the two sides. Croatia will look to end that streak in Toronto, a match that carries significant weight as both players approach the twilight of their careers. “It’s a special moment to share the pitch with him again,” Modric said in a pre-match press conference. “We have had many battles, and I respect him greatly.”
The World Cup last-32 clash promises to be a memorable encounter, far more than the friendlies from 2006 that marked the beginning of their international journeys. Fans will be watching to see if Modric’s Croatia can finally overcome Ronaldo’s Portugal, or if the veteran duo will produce one more moment of magic.
