Ronaldo and Modrić: A look back at the legendary partnership ahead of World Cup clash

As Croatia and Portugal prepare to clash in the World Cup's Round of 16, the spotlight shines brightly on the reunion of former Real Madrid teammates Luka Modrić and Cristiano Ronaldo. The bond forged during their years at the Spanish club, where they won four Champions League titles together between 2012 and 2018, is a central narrative surrounding this encounter.

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Our main objective is to play a good match and try to get through to the next round.

British media, including The Guardian, have noted the remarkable statistic that Modrić is the central midfielder with whom Ronaldo has played the most games – a total of 222. This highlights the deep on-field connection they shared. The article also points out a unique shared achievement: both Modrić and Ronaldo are among the only European players to have surpassed 200 international appearances for their respective nations. Ronaldo is set to play his 232nd match for Portugal, while Modrić will don the Croatian jersey for the 202nd time.

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We are in this competition on merit. We showed that during qualification, and we have shown in our three matches here that we can compete at this level.

Beyond the statistics, their friendship extends off the pitch. A poignant moment recalled is from Euro 2016, when Ronaldo comforted a dejected Modrić after Portugal eliminated Croatia. Ronaldo's reported words then, that he couldn't celebrate while his 'brother' was crying, underscore the personal respect and affection between the two footballing giants.

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We want to continue doing that in the best possible way, with humility, organisation, and courage. This is a knockout match, so there is only one thought in our minds: to try to advance.

Historically, Portugal has dominated encounters with Croatia, winning seven of their ten previous matches. However, Croatia secured a recent victory in a friendly match before Euro 2024, adding a layer of intrigue to this high-stakes World Cup fixture. Both players, former recipients of the Ballon d'Or, are nearing the end of their illustrious careers, making this potential World Cup swansong for one of them a moment of significant emotional weight.

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Since we arrived, we have trusted in our own way of working and in what we have done. If others did not respect us, that was their issue. We trust our work.