Cristiano Ronaldo drops big claim on his future with Portugal after meeting with Luka Modric and Croatia in Nations League
Cristiano Ronaldo has seemingly dropped a hint about his future following a Nations League clash with Luka Modric's Croatia on Thursday (September 5). Portugal overcame their first opponents of the competition 2-1 in a group match, which saw the 39-year-old striker find the net.
There were question marks over whether Ronaldo would continue representing the national team following the country's Euro 2024 campaign. However, it looks like the Al-Nassr star has left the possibility of playing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup wide open.
Speaking about himself and Modric, Ronaldo said (via @MadridXtra):
"Luka and I are friends. I'm glad he's still playing. It's wonderful. It's a pleasure to play against him and against Croatia. Both he and I are still in good form, and we'll continue to play."
Both players know each other fairly well from their time together at Real Madrid. They made 222 appearances across competitions beside one another, managing 16 joint goal contributions.
At the age of 38, the Croatia international continues to play at the highest level in club football, representing Los Blancos. He still has a year left on his current contract at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Overall, Modric has made 539 appearances across competitions for Real Madrid, bagging 39 goals and 86 assists. He's won the La Liga trophy four times, along with six UEFA Champions League titles, among other honors in the Spanish capital.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo also has one year left on his deal at Al-Nassr. He's played 68 matches for the club, netting 62 times and providing 17 assists.
Luka Modric heaped praise on Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of Nations League meeting
Real Madrid icon Luka Modric heaped praise on Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of the pair's Nations League meeting. He called the five-time Ballon d'Or winner one of the best ever to play for Portugal, if not the best.
Ronaldo has made 213 appearances across competitions for his national team, bagging 131 goals and 45 assists. Speaking to beIN Sports about the Portuguese attacker, Modric said (via Madrid Universal):
"I'm happy he continues with Portugal, for everything he has done and for what he means to them. He's one of the greatest players, if not the greatest player for Portugal. It will be a joy to play against him."
Portugal have another clash against Scotland before the close of the international break. Expect Ronaldo to feature in the starting XI for that match on Sunday (September 8).