<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/football/article/fifa-world-cup-2026-portugal-cristiano-ronaldo-scripts-history-despite-draw-against-dr-congo-23635702" rel="nofollow">Cristiano Ronaldo</a> and Luka Modric will make history when two outfield players aged over 40 face off for the first time in a World Cup as Portugal take on Croatia in Friday&rsquo;s last-32 clash.
But both men are facing questions over whether their status as national heroes is now more of a burden than a boost to their countries&rsquo; hopes of progressing far in the competition.
Prior to this tournament, only Cameroon&rsquo;s Roger Milla had played in a World Cup as an outfield player after turning 40.
Ronaldo and Modric, who won four Champions Leagues in six seasons together at <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/football/article/real-madrids-chaotic-week-continues-as-mbappe-takes-aim-at-coach-arbeloa-23630619" rel="nofollow">Real Madrid</a>, have long defied father time but have shown their age in what will almost certainly be their final flourish on the global stage.
At 41, Ronaldo defiantly screamed &ldquo;I&rsquo;m back&rdquo; after netting twice against Uzbekistan. Yet either side of a 5-0 romp over a team ranked 60th in the world, Portugal failed to beat the Democratic Republic of Congo and Colombia.
Modric, 40, similarly showed his age in Croatia&rsquo;s tournament opener, which ended in a 4-2 defeat to <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/football/article/kane-rescues-england-from-dr-congo-calamity-to-reach-world-cup-last-16-23637792" rel="nofollow">England</a> in Dallas.
Caught on his heels, Modric conceded a penalty when chopping down Noni Madueke for England&rsquo;s opening goal and was sacrificed by Zlatko Dalic before the hour mark.
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But both men are facing questions over whether their status as national heroes is now more of a burden than a boost to their countries’ hopes of progressing

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But both men are facing questions over whether their status as national heroes is now more of a burden than a boost to their countries’ hopes of progressing far in the competition

FIFA World Cup 2026: Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric set to script history during Portugal-Croatia face-off

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Home / Sports / Football / Article / FIFA World Cup 2026: Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric set to script history during Portugal-Croatia face-off