As the World Cup 2026 progresses, Portugal is gearing up for an exciting match against Croatia, featuring two of football's biggest stars, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric. This encounter, scheduled for July 3, 2026, is particularly significant as it may mark the final World Cup appearance for both players.

Portugal has advanced to the knockout stage as the runner-up in Group K, finishing behind Colombia. Their journey through the group stage has been mixed; they started with a 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo, followed by a commanding 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan, and concluded with a draw against Colombia. Despite finishing second in their group, Portugal remains optimistic, having not lost in their last eight matches across all competitions, with five wins and three draws. During this period, they conceded only four goals and kept four clean sheets.

On the other hand, Croatia has shown resilience and experience in World Cup tournaments. After a disappointing 2-4 loss to England in their opening match, they bounced back with two consecutive wins against Panama and Ghana, securing their place in the next round. Luka Modric has been a standout performer, becoming the oldest player to provide an assist in World Cup history during the match against Ghana.

Historically, Portugal holds a favorable record against Croatia, having won seven of their last ten encounters. This gives them a slight edge heading into the match. However, Croatia’s ability to perform in high-pressure knockout situations means that Portugal will face a tough challenge ahead.

As fans eagerly await this thrilling matchup, the anticipation builds for what could be a defining moment in the careers of both Ronaldo and Modric.