Toronto bids farewell to the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Thursday, but the city may also be witnessing the closing chapter of two of football’s greatest international careers.
For years, every major tournament featuring Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modrić has come with the same question: Could this be their final appearance on football’s biggest stage?
The “Last Dance” narrative may have become familiar, but it carries renewed significance as Portugal and Croatia prepare to meet in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 at Toronto Stadium. If circumstances unfold as expected, the clash could mark the final high-profile international meeting between two of football’s greatest modern icons.
In the build-up to the highly anticipated encounter, excitement has swept across Toronto. Shirts bearing the names of Ronaldo and Modrić have become a common sight throughout the city, blending with celebrations for Canada’s national holiday, Canada Day.
The anticipation even spilled onto the streets, with a group of passionate Portugal supporters briefly bringing traffic to a halt on one of Toronto’s main highways in the hope of catching a glimpse of the team’s bus.
Both teams head into the knockout tie with questions to answer. Portugal have struggled to find consistency, while Croatia’s weaknesses were exposed by England in their opening group match, making it difficult to identify a clear favourite.
What is beyond doubt, however, is the atmosphere expected inside the stadium. Croatia’s supporters have already transformed parts of Toronto into a sea of red and white during the team’s group-stage clash against Panama, and another electric occasion is anticipated.
For those lucky enough to secure a ticket, the match promises to be far more than a place in the next round. It could also provide the backdrop to the closing chapter of two extraordinary international careers.
Portugal head coach Roberto Martínez believes Ronaldo and Modrić have transcended the usual debates surrounding age.
“We’re talking about players who stand above public opinion. They stand above it because their longevity in the game makes them special,” Martínez said.
“You mention Luka Modrić, already over 40, and the number of matches he plays remains hugely significant. It’s the same with our own captain. For anyone who talks about age, age is just a number.”
Few places in football are celebrating two of the game’s greatest veterans quite like Toronto, where shirts bearing the names of Luka Modrić and Cristiano Ronaldo have become a common sight and admiration for both players has been evident throughout the city.
Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livaković described the pair as legends whose influence on the sport is unquestionable.
“They’re definitely two giants of the game who have made their mark on football,” he said.
Despite the admiration, Livaković made it clear that Croatia’s focus remains firmly on helping their captain extend his international journey.
“My teammates and I will do everything we can to make sure Luka can continue his path,” he added.
Modrić, who turns 41 in September—the same age as his longtime friend and rival Ronaldo—has acknowledged that he is nearing the closing chapter of his international career.
“I know I have reached a certain phase in my career,” he admitted.
Ronaldo, meanwhile, has already confirmed that this World Cup will be the final one of his illustrious career.
After sharing the dressing room at Real Madrid between 2012 and 2018 and winning numerous major trophies together, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modrić forged a friendship built on deep mutual respect and admiration.
Ronaldo has previously described it as “always a pleasure” to watch Modrić play, while the Croatian midfielder once praised the Portugal captain as “an incredible person with a huge heart.”
Now, the two former teammates are set to face each other as opponents, with one of football’s most celebrated veterans seeing another memorable World Cup journey come to an end.
For Portugal head coach Roberto Martínez, however, the significance of Ronaldo and Modrić goes far beyond the outcome of the knockout encounter.
“What matters is what they deliver and how important they are as role models in the dressing room,” Martínez said.
“Luka Modrić is a role model for millions of young athletes and the next generation of football lovers. Their longevity in the game has made Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modrić true icons of football.”