It's Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Luka Modric as one legend prepares for last World Cup dance

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World Cup legacy 

2026 is the sixth World Cup that both have appeared in. A remarkable run that is a testament to the talent and dedication of the two players who are easily the best their respective countries have seen. 

2006 was the year when Ronaldo and Modric first appeared on this stage, and for once, it's the Croatian who has outshone Cristiano in what he's achieved across those half-dozen tournaments. 

Ronaldo managed to help Portugal to a semi-final in 2006 - including knocking England out on the way - but he's still waiting for his own moment. In fact, the Portuguese skipper is still waiting for a first knockout goal in the competition, which is incredible when you think of what else he's achieved in the game. 

Modric, though, has reached the showpiece with the Croats. As the central figure in the middle, using the in-game intelligence and influence he's made a career on, he led his country to the World Cup final in 2018, only to suffer a heartbreaking loss to France.

So good were his performances, not only did he win the Golden Ball, but he upset the Messi/Ronaldo monopoly on the Ballon d'Or that year and scooped the biggest individual prize thanks to his World Cup exploits. 

Yet, eight years on, does he or Ronaldo have enough for one more moment in the World Cup sun? 

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Have they still got it?

Father Time is a cruel master, and it felt like he might be making his move in the direction of our two subjects in the opening weeks of the tournament. 

In the opening game, it was Modric who gave away an early penalty to England and then was later withdrawn, with Croatia needing more legs to cover a dominating second-half performance from the Three Lions. 

But it was merely a false start from the Croatian captain, and by the third game he was up to his old tricks again by setting up Nikola Vlasic's header for the winner against Ghana. 

The same could be said for Ronaldo, too. After Portugal limped to a goalless draw with DR Congo, many were suggesting it was time to remove their number 7 for the greater good of the team. 
 

Stefan Koops/EYE4IMAGES/NurPhoto via Getty Images

How did he respond? Well, the only way he knows how. A brace against Uzbekistan saw him show why he's still relied upon as he took his international goals tally to 145. 

Would Portugal be a better, more mobile side without him? Hard to say, but as long as he's scoring goals he's going nowhere. 

Now, the test is to see if they really still have it. A first meeting on a World Cup stage between two players who have shared the pitch 232 times (222 as teammates, 10 times as opponents), but who will savour that final moment in the sun, and who will bring down the curtain on their World Cup career? 

For Modric, who's never been on the winning side against Ronaldo, he can bow out with his World Cup head held high, but if Portugal do lose, Ronaldo will leave the arena with one lasting regret on his incredible CV. 

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