Vintage Modric till the end

It was supposed to be a farewell for a legend in Toronto.

At over 40 years of age, either Cristiano Ronaldo or Luka Modric was expected to walk off a World Cup stage for the final time. By the end of the night, it was Modric who may have bid farewell to the grandest stage.

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Yesterday’s Round of 32 clash between Portugal and Croatia was among the most dramatic matches of the tournament so far. VAR controversy, relentless twists and a stoppage-time winner made for a chaotic spectacle, but beyond Portugal's 2-1 victory, it was the sight of Modric at the final whistle that resonated most with football fans around the world.

There was also a moment of nostalgia.

As the match ended, Ronaldo embraced his longtime Real Madrid teammate, instantly taking fans back to an era when Modric would sprint towards the Portuguese forward after setting him up for yet another decisive goal. It was reminiscent of nights such as the 2017 Champions League final, when the duo helped Los Blancos overcome Juventus.

Ronaldo, understandably, had nothing but praise for the Croatian icon.

"I played with Luka so many matches and we are nearly the same age. He is a legend of football," Ronaldo told FOX after the match.

"I said to him, 'Congratulations for everything. I would love to see you again and all the best for the next years of your career.' It was nice to play him once again," he added.

Their embrace, however, came after an intense battle on the pitch.

Modric, who became the second-oldest outfield player to start a World Cup knockout match at 40 years and 296 days – behind only Ronaldo – left everything on the field. He played the full match, including around 16 minutes of stoppage time, and continued to dictate Croatia's play until the very end.

It was vintage Modric.

Time and again, the midfielder showcased the vision that has defined his career, spraying trademark long passes into the path of Croatia's wide players and controlling the tempo whenever he had the ball.

His performance also earned admiration from both dugouts.

"This was probably his last World Cup, and I'm sorry that it ended this way," an emotional Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said. "He has shown his quality and his character and, of course, he was leading Croatia until the very end."

Portugal boss Roberto Martinez also paid tribute to the Croatian great, saying he had "inspired millions of kids."

"His example is going to stay in the folklore of football forever," Martinez told reporters, praising Modric's intelligence on the pitch.

"It's not often that we talk about a player that can put his foot on the ball and make a decision. I think Modric is the beautiful example of that.

"Depending on how the game goes, he finds the space, he makes the right call. It's incredible to see him play," Martinez added, praising Modric for playing "the game like a young man."

That has been the hallmark of Modric's career.

As one of football's greatest midfielders edges closer to the end of an extraordinary journey, the result in Toronto will eventually fade into history. What will endure is the elegance, intelligence, and consistency with which Modric played the game for nearly two decades at the highest level – a legacy that transcends rivalries and commands admiration from the entire footballing world.