'In Our Hearts,': Cristiano Ronaldo Opens Up About Reuniting with Luka Modric in Portugal vs Croatia

In the UEFA Nations League Group A contest, Portugal defeated Croatia 2-1 on Friday, September 6, 2024. Portugal's score was started by Diogo Dalot in the seventh minute, then Cristiano Ronaldo scored yet another goal in the thirty-fourth. But in the 41st minute, Dalot inadvertently scored an own goal. Portugal had 15 shots and 6 shots on target, while Croatia had 13 shots and 4 shots on target, therefore producing a 50% possession for both sides. Portugal comes in second in League A Group 1 rankings with this win. The game was at Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica. In this match Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo achieved a historic record by scoring his 900th career goal. He completed a cross from Nuno Mendes with a simple close-range volley.

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Cristiano Ronaldo reveals the feeling after playing against his former Real Madrid teammate Luka Modric 

Cristiano Ronaldo thought back on challenging his old Real Madrid colleague Luka Modric in the inaugural UEFA Nations League game at Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica where Portugal triumphed 2-1 against Croatia.

From 2012 to 2018, Ronaldo and Modric were Real Madrid colleagues who won several championships including one La Liga, one Copa del Rey, two Supercopa de España crowns, four UEFA Champions League medals, two UEFA Super Cups, and three FIFA Club World Cups. Cristiano Ronaldo responded (via @MadridXtra on X) to being questioned about facing Modric in the UEFA Nations League:

“The old guys are still playing (laughs). It’s beautiful, football, it’s moments, that we keep in our hearts forever.”

The Portuguese legend Ronaldo became the first player to surpass 900 career goals with exactly half of them coming during his very successful nine-year stint at the Santiago Bernabéu from 2009 to 2018. Ronaldo, who is now 39 years old, has an impressive total of 131 international goals as of today. Cristiano Ronaldo has scored a total of 450 goals for Real Madrid, 145 goals for Manchester United, 101 goals for Juventus, and 68 goals for his current team, Al Nassr. In addition, he netted five goals for Sporting Lisbon, the club where he first started his professional career.

Cristiano Ronaldo will now be seen in action for Portugal in another UEFA Nations League encounter against Scotland on Monday, September 9, 2024.  And on the other hand, Croatia will face Poland.