Croatia captain Luka Modrić has urged Portugal to ensure Cristiano Ronaldo receives the farewell he deserves whenever the legendary forward eventually brings his international career to an end.
Modrić described Ronaldo as the greatest player in the history of Portuguese football and expressed sadness over the uncertainty currently surrounding the 41-year-old’s relationship with the national team.
The former Real Madrid midfielder made the comments amid growing attention surrounding Ronaldo’s future with Portugal following his recent dispute with head coach Jorge Jesus.
Ronaldo left Portugal’s training camp last week after a disagreement with Jesus and later released a detailed statement explaining his side of the situation. The veteran forward accused the coach of breaking agreements concerning his treatment and role within the national team.
Jesus subsequently confirmed that he had read Ronaldo’s statement but said he had nothing further to add to the matter.
The dispute has created uncertainty over whether Ronaldo will continue representing Portugal, although there has been no official announcement that he has retired from international football.
Modrić believes that, regardless of what Ronaldo ultimately decides, the Portuguese football authorities should make sure his departure is handled appropriately.
“Cristiano is the greatest player in the history of Portugal, and he deserves another farewell and another ending with the national team,” Modrić said, according to comments reported by Fabrizio Romano.
The Croatia captain admitted that he did not know the full details behind the disagreement between Ronaldo and Jesus, but said he was uncomfortable seeing such a situation involving a player of Ronaldo’s stature.
“It’s sad to see this happening to Cristiano in his own country,” Modrić said.
He added that he hoped the parties could find a solution that would allow Ronaldo to receive a fitting send-off, whether he decides to continue playing for Portugal or walks away from international football.
Modrić and Ronaldo share a long history from their years together at Real Madrid, where they formed part of one of the most successful teams in European football.
Their time in Madrid produced multiple Champions League triumphs and several domestic honours, while both players became central figures of the club’s golden era.
They also faced each other at international level, most recently at the 2026 FIFA World Cup when Portugal defeated Croatia 2-1 in the Round of 32. Ronaldo scored Portugal’s equaliser from the penalty spot before Gonçalo Ramos came off the bench to score the winner. The defeat marked an emotional World Cup farewell for Modrić.
Now, with both players entering the final stages of their international careers, Modrić’s comments highlight how quickly an era of European football is disappearing.
Ronaldo has spent more than two decades representing Portugal and has become the country’s most capped player and leading goalscorer. He has also led the national team to major international success, including victory at the 2016 European Championship and the 2019 UEFA Nations League.
His longevity has made him one of the most recognisable figures in Portuguese sporting history.
The current controversy, however, has temporarily shifted attention away from those achievements and towards his relationship with the national team.
Ronaldo’s recent departure from camp followed a period in which he was left on the bench during Portugal’s 2-1 Nations League victory over Norway. Jesus acknowledged that Ronaldo had been disappointed after warming up without eventually entering the match.
Ronaldo later explained that his decision to leave the camp followed conversations with the Portuguese Football Federation and the coach’s press conference.
He said at the time that he would eventually explain the reasons behind his decision and insisted that his commitment to Portugal had never changed.
That explanation has now added another layer to an increasingly public dispute.
For Modrić, however, the disagreement should not overshadow Ronaldo’s enormous contribution to Portuguese football.
Whether Ronaldo continues with the national team or decides that the time has come to step away, the Croatian believes the ending should reflect the magnitude of his career.
For a player who has spent more than 20 years carrying Portugal’s hopes, Modrić’s message is simple: whatever happens next, Ronaldo deserves to leave on his own terms and in a manner worthy of his place in the country’s football history.
The final chapter of Ronaldo’s Portugal career may still be unwritten.
But if Modrić gets his wish, it will end with celebration rather than controversy.
