Croatia’s Luka Modric (AP/PTI) Luka Modric’s exit from the World Cup stage and, with it, possibly international football as well, did not turn out to be the beau idéal or a perfect 10, a number he has so adoringly and alluringly made his own over the years. The end was, though, dramatic — and cruel….
Croatia’s Luka Modric (10) and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (7) greet each other (AP) Two celestial bodies orbited each other, a thousand cameras waited with bated breath, pausing for them to come together. As Luka Modric, destroyed after a soul-crushing defeat that ended a scintillating two-decade-old international career, acknowledged the wishes of his Portuguese rivals, Cristiano…
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (7) celebrates after scoring their opening goal. (AP Photo) Cristiano Ronaldo added yet another remarkable chapter to his glittering career by becoming the oldest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup knockout-stage history as Portugal edged Croatia 2-1 in a dramatic Round of 32 clash on Thursday.At 41 years and 147 days old, the…
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (AP Photo) Cristiano Ronaldo added yet another extraordinary achievement to his glittering career after finding the net against Uzbekistan and becoming the first footballer in history to score in six different FIFA World Cup editions.The Portugal captain, now 41, continued his remarkable love affair with the biggest stage in world football by…
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (AP Photo) For more than two decades, Cristiano Ronaldo has built a career on proving people wrong.Every time critics questioned him, he responded with goals. Every time doubts surfaced about his longevity, he produced another record. From Manchester to Madrid, Turin to Riyadh, and throughout an extraordinary international career with Portugal, Ronaldo…