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Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his penalty goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto. Sammy Kogan/Canadian Press via ZUMA Press/dpa
Cristiano Ronaldo led the tributes to Croatia playmaker Luka Modrić after Portugal knocked his side out of the World Cup last-32 in dramatic circumstances on Thursday.
The 40-year-old Modrić helped Croatia finish runners-up in the 2018 tournament and reach the semi-finals four years later.
But the 2-1 loss to Portugal, which included a stoppage-time winner and then an apparent Croatia leveller ruled out for offside, looks to be his final World Cup act.
"I said goodbye to him. We are almost the same age. He is a football legend. I have great respect for Modrić for what he has achieved in football," said Ronaldo, 41 and a former Real Madrid team mate of the midfielder.
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić also sympathized with Modrić.
"It was probably his last World Cup. I am sorry it ended so sadly," he said.
This is likely to be Ronaldo's last World Cup too despite the Al-Nassr forward still banging in the goals.
He equalized Ivan Perišić's opener with a penalty in Toronto on Thursday but cut a frustrated figure when substituted at 1-1.
His delight after the late winner from Gonçalo Ramos was clear for all to see and his tribute to Modrić followed a different sort of tribute on the field.
After the final whistle, Portugal players held up the number 21 shirt once donned by their late team-mate Diogo Jota. Ronaldo then put it on and pointed to the sky with tears in his eyes.
Jota and his brother, Andre, died on July 3, 2025 in a car accident.
"It's a special day, as you know, for our Jota. He's up there illuminating us, and it's a special moment. We all feel he's with us, and it only made sense to win to honour him in the best way," Ronaldo said on the near anniversary of their deaths.
Portugal next meet Iberian rivals and European champions Spain in a mouth-watering last-16 match-up.
Ronaldo has been criticized by pundits at this World Cup for getting in the way both on the field and off it, preventing younger players from taking his place.
But Portugal winger Rafael Leão defended his captain, who has won only the Euros and the Nations League at international level along with his plethora of club honours.
"We absolutely want to get Cristiano this trophy - it's the only thing he still lacks," Leão said,
"During the World Cup preparations he always gave everything so that he is in good shape. That is exactly what he proved today at the decisive moment. He does not fail - even in the face of a lot of criticism."
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