Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric shared an intimate embrace after the friendly match between Portugal and Croatia at the Nacional Stadium in the early hours of June 9 (Hanoi time).
Croatia secured a 2-1 victory over Portugal on the opponent’s turf. However, the moment that truly touched the hearts of fans was the greeting between Ronaldo and Modric after the clash between the two teams concluded.
In the scene, Modric approached Ronaldo to greet him. The Portuguese superstar responded with a warm smile and a very affectionate hug. On social media, users continuously commented on this moment. They believed it to be one of the touching moments between Ronaldo and Modric, as the UEFA EURO 2024 could be the final stage for the two stars.
Ronaldo and Modric had a long-standing bond during their time at Real Madrid and achieved great success together. This duo played crucial roles in Real Madrid’s journey to win four UEFA Champions League titles.
In 2018, Ronaldo left Real Madrid, while Modric continued to play for the Spanish giants. Recently, Real Madrid announced that Modric’s contract has been extended for another year, allowing him to wear the club’s jersey until the end of the 2024/25 season.
Returning to the friendly match at the Nacional Stadium, Modric scored the opening goal for the Croatian team in the 8th minute. After a few minutes into the second half, Diogo Jota equalized for Portugal. However, in the 56th minute, Ante Budimir of Croatia shone with a goal that sealed the 2-1 victory.
In this match, Cristiano Ronaldo did not take to the field. Perhaps, Belgium’s coach Roberto Martinez wanted his pupil to have more time to rest. The Portuguese superstar is now 39 years old.
For the Croatian team, facing Portugal was the final trial before the UEFA EURO 2024. On June 15, Modric and his teammates will clash with Spain in the opening match of Group B. Croatia’s form is on the rise, with them having won all matches since November 2023.
Meanwhile, the Portuguese team still has a friendly match with Ireland on June 12 before entering the UEFA EURO 2024. Ronaldo and his teammates will face the Czech Republic in the opening match of Group F on June 19.