'Age is just a number for Ronaldo'

Coach Roberto Martinez praised Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric ahead of the crucial match between Portugal and Croatia in the Round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup on July 3rd.

Ronaldo has high expectations placed upon him ahead of the match against Croatia.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, coach Martinez emphasized: "We are talking about players who transcend all judgment. They are icons of world football. It is their long careers that make them special. Modric is still playing at the highest level beyond 40, and the same is true for Ronaldo."

At the 2026 World Cup , Ronaldo will be participating in his sixth World Cup, while Modric will be making his fifth. Both are approaching 40 years of age but still maintain their leadership roles and are the greatest pillars of their national teams.

The Spanish strategist asserted: "Age is just a number. What matters is what they contribute on the field and their influence in the dressing room. Modric is an example for millions of athletes and generations of young players, and so is Ronaldo."

You may also like

Portugal vs Croatia Prediction: Expected LineupsPortugal entered the 2026 World Cup Round of 16 with a historical advantage over Croatia, but this was a knockout match — one mistake could end their journey.

Live updates on the Round of 16 teams today, July 3rd: Ronaldo's clash with Croatia, and the anticipation of Portugal following suit.Live coverage of the teams advancing to the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup will focus on three matches today, July 3rd: Spain vs Austria, Portugal vs Croatia, and Switzerland vs Algeria.

Video of the Spain vs Austria football match: Oyarzabal as the hero.Mikel Oyarzabal continued his scoring form for the Spanish national team in their 3-0 victory over Austria in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup.

Ronaldo and Modric played together for six seasons at Real Madrid from 2012 to 2018. The duo won numerous titles together, most notably four Champions League titles and one La Liga title.

Commenting on the match, coach Martinez said it would be a tense battle of wits as both Portugal and Croatia prefer ball control and technical play. "We've met Croatia before in the Nations League, so there aren't many secrets between the two teams," he admitted.

Facing Croatia presents an opportunity for Ronaldo to end his goalless streak in World Cup knockout rounds. He hasn't scored in his previous five World Cups. At the 2026 World Cup, CR7 only had two goals in the group stage.

Ronaldo's heartwarming moment: After the match against Colombia in the final round of Group K of the 2026 World Cup on the morning of June 28th, Cristiano Ronaldo shared a heartwarming moment of reunion with his family in Miami.

United States - Vietnam: Don't miss

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs received a copy of the Letter of Credence for the U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam.On the afternoon of July 2nd, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters, Mr. Le Cong Dung, Director of the State Protocol and Foreign Interpretation Department, received a copy of the Letter of Credence from Ms. Jennifer Wicks, Ambassador of the United States of America to Vietnam.

Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dung visits and works in Minnesota, USA.From June 28-30, the Vietnamese Ambassador to the United States, Nguyen Quoc Dung, paid a visit and worked in Minnesota.

Vietnam encourages US businesses to expand investment in high technology.On the morning of June 26th, at the Government Headquarters, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung received Mr. Jeff Place, Supply Chain Director of Coherent Group (USA). During the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam encourages US businesses to expand investment, especially in high-tech, innovation, and semiconductor industries.

Source: https://znews.vn/tuoi-tac-chi-la-con-so-voi-ronaldo-post1665401.html