Croatia captain Luka Modrić has said Cristiano Ronaldo deserves a major farewell from Portugal as uncertainty continues to surround the veteran forward’s future with the national team.
Modrić made the comments while speaking to Spanish media after Croatia’s defeat to Spain, saying he was saddened by the situation involving Ronaldo and hoped it could be resolved.
The Croatian midfielder said he had not spoken to Ronaldo and did not know precisely what had happened between the Portugal captain and coach Jorge Jesus.
But Modrić stressed Ronaldo’s importance to Portuguese football and said the five-time Ballon d’Or winner deserved a farewell that reflected his contribution to the national team.
“I don’t know exactly what happened, but I hope the situation gets resolved because Cristiano is the greatest player in Portugal,” Modrić said, according to reports of his comments.
Ronaldo’s international future has come under renewed scrutiny after he left Portugal’s training camp amid a dispute surrounding his involvement in recent matches.
The forward subsequently explained that he remains available for Portugal and wants to continue competing for the national team when physically fit.
The situation has prompted debate over whether Ronaldo’s international career is approaching its conclusion and how Portugal should mark the end of his extraordinary national-team journey.
Ronaldo is Portugal’s record goalscorer and has been one of the defining figures in the country’s football history.
Portugal players have also publicly defended his status.
Bruno Fernandes recently described Ronaldo as the greatest symbol of Portugal’s national team and football, while urging supporters not to allow the controversy to divide the country.
Modrić’s intervention adds another prominent voice to calls for Ronaldo to receive a fitting farewell, regardless of whether he ultimately retires from international football or continues playing.
For now, Ronaldo has not formally announced his retirement from Portugal.
The immediate question is therefore not only how his international career will end, but whether the final chapter will be written on the pitch or amid the controversy surrounding his relationship with the current coaching setup.