The former Real Madrid teammates remain active at the highest level, and Modric believes Ronaldo still has plenty left in the tank as he closes in on another extraordinary landmark. Cristiano Ronaldo has spent much of his career making soccer’s impossible milestones look increasingly ordinary, and Luka Modric knows that better than most. The former Real Madrid teammates remain active at the highest level, and Modric believes Ronaldo still has plenty left in the tank as he closes in on another extraordinary landmark. The Croatian midfielder has watched Ronaldo’s evolution from close range, sharing some of the greatest moments in Real Madrid’s history with him. Now, with the Portuguese superstar approaching a number that has seemed almost unthinkable for generations of players, Modric has offered a fascinating prediction about how long his former teammate could continue. Modric and Ronaldo spent six seasons together at Real Madrid between 2012 and 2018, forming part of a team that dominated European soccer. The pair won four Champions League titles together, alongside numerous domestic and international honors, before eventually taking separate paths. That shared history gives Modric a unique perspective on Ronaldo’s mentality. While many players begin to slow down as they enter their late 30s and early 40s, Ronaldo has continued to score and compete at an extraordinary level. Speaking to Diario AS, Modric said: “Cristiano is incredible; he’s a phenomenon, a monster, and I have no doubt that he’s going to reach that number.” Cristiano Ronaldo (R) of Real Madrid CF celebrates with his team mate Luka Modric The midfielder was responding to a question about whether he simply expected Ronaldo to reach 1,000 official career goals, a milestone that would make him the first player to achieve it. Ronaldo was reportedly just 22 goals away from the landmark at the time of the interview. Why Modric would not be surprised if Ronaldo continues to play Modric’s confidence goes beyond Ronaldo reaching 1,000 goals. The Croatian explained that the Portuguese star’s mentality and natural ability to find the net make it difficult to place a normal limit on his career. Modric told Diario AS: “I don’t know how much longer he’ll want to keep playing, but he’s going to keep scoring goals even if he wants to continue until he’s 50.” He pointed specifically to Ronaldo’s character, confidence, and relentless desire to compete. Modric added: “His gift for scoring goals is incredible, and above all, his character, his faith, and his self-confidence; it’s something incredible.” That combination is what makes Modric’s prediction feel less like exaggeration and more like an assessment from someone who knows Ronaldo extremely well. At 41, Ronaldo is still chasing goals with the same competitive edge that defined his prime years. Friendship built at Real Madrid The relationship between the two veterans goes beyond what happened on the pitch. Modric has previously spoken warmly about Ronaldo’s personality away from soccer, while Ronaldo has repeatedly shown his admiration for the Croatian midfielder. Together, they played a major role in one of Real Madrid’s most successful eras. Their four Champions League triumphs included the unprecedented European dominance of the mid-2010s, with Ronaldo leading the scoring charts and Modric controlling games from midfield. Their careers eventually moved in different directions, but neither player has followed the conventional retirement timeline. Modric remains with Milan, while Ronaldo continues his career with Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. For now, the immediate target remains the 1,000-goal mark. With only 22 goals reportedly separating Ronaldo from history, Modric has little doubt that his former teammate will eventually get there.
As fans eagerly anticipate the upcoming match between these giants, fans are left wondering: has Lionel Messi ever faced the Norway international? Cristiano Ronaldo and Erling Haaland are two of the most prolific goalscorers in modern soccer, yet they have never faced one another for any club or national team. For years, Ronaldo has been the standard-bearer for Portugal, while Haaland has become Norway’s most feared finisher as their careers have run in parallel, but never in the same match. As fans eagerly anticipate the upcoming match between these giants, fans are left wondering: has Lionel Messi ever played against the Norway international? This highly anticipated duel will pit Ronaldo’s remarkable longevity against the explosive power of Haaland. Throughout his illustrious career, the Portuguese forward has showcased his talents at every major European destination he joined. Meanwhile, the Norwegian striker has bullied defenders across the continent with his incredible physical strength and ruthless finishing. The long wait for this monumental encounter will finally end on Sunday, September 27, 2026. The match will take place at the Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo, where the home squad will host the Portuguese roster in a crucial Nations League fixture. A subsequent return meeting is already scheduled for October 4 in Porto, giving fans another chance to witness the spectacle. The Portuguese maestro and the Norwegian sensation have each carved out remarkable careers on the club and international stages. The former has spent years at the pinnacle of European soccer with clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Al-Nassr, while the latter’s meteoric rise has seen him shine at Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City. Despite their prominence, they have surprisingly never played against each other in a competitive fixture. Cristiano Ronaldo (left) and Erling Haaland (right) Their paths have also not crossed on the international stage. Portugal and Norway have met multiple times, but these encounters occurred before Haaland established himself as a senior international star in 2019. This absence of face-to-face competition is even more notable considering how often their names are compared due to their goalscoring prowess and attacking brilliance. Have Messi and Haaland ever crossed paths? With the spotlight shining on this unprecedented European clash, observers naturally wonder about the Argentine legend’s history with the Norwegian powerhouse. In fact, Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland have also never played against each other in an official match. Their paths completely bypassed one another during their respective domestic and continental campaigns. During the height of his European career, the Argentine maestro was securing trophies with his beloved Spanish employers, Barcelona. At the same time, the young Norwegian phenom was busy making a name for himself in Germany and England. The draw for the UEFA Champions League never paired their respective squads together on the pitch. The situation at the international level mirrors their missed connections in domestic leagues. The South American champions Argentina simply never scheduled any friendly or competitive fixtures against the Scandinavian squad during their overlapping active years. As a result, a direct head-to-head battle between these global icons remained entirely elusive. Lionel Messi of Argentina and Erling Haaland of Norway. Furthermore, any hope of an international clash between the Argentine and the Norwegian was recently extinguished. Messi recently announced his retirement from international action, ending an illustrious La Albiceleste career with a record 207 caps and 125 goals. His achievements include winning the 2022 World Cup, but now the possibility of future encounters with Haaland in international tournaments is gone. Could they still meet in the future? Since Messi now plays for Inter Miami in MLS and Haaland remains at Manchester City, their c
At the end of a busy transfer window which spanned the World Cup, here are some of the subplots of the summerThe World Cup is always a good shop window. Yan Diomande was already a rising star at RB Leipzig but shining for Côte d’Ivoire in the US helped push up his price tag before a £115.7m move to Real Madrid. There were other breakout stars: Switzerland’s Johan Manzambi, whose signature Aston Villa pipped Newcastle to; Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Kerim Alajbegovic, who went to Juventus; and Ghana’s Caleb Yirenkyi, who is now in the Premier League with Coventry. Cape Verde’s cult hero Vozinha now keeps net for the Chilean giants Colo-Colo and Morocco’s attacking dynamo, Ismael Saibari, has rocked up at Bayern. Billy Munday Continue reading...
Jose Mourinho paid tribute to Lionel Messi after his Argentina retirement, admitting he'll now have to watch MLS games just to keep seeing him play. Jose Mourinho was asked about Lionel Messi‘s retirement from the Argentina national team during his press conference ahead of Real Madrid’s clash with Real Betis on Thursday. The Portuguese coach, who has faced Messi throughout his managerial career across multiple leagues, didn’t hold back when reflecting on what the Argentine’s exit from international football means for the sport. “Talking about Messi is complicated. There’s not much more to say. And there are no words that can describe his quality as a player. He arrived at this World Cup at 38 or 39 years old and delivered what we all saw. He’s one of those players you’re going to miss,” Mourinho said. Amid the backdrop of Messi’s retirement from international duty, Mourinho noted that he will now have to watch some of Inter Miami’s MLS games in order to make the most of the Argentine’s remaining years as a professional. “We’ll have to watch some MLS games, which isn’t something I enjoy much, to make the most of these final years. He’s one of those players who, like I said in a previous press conference, you always miss. And he’s one of the greats of our generation,” he added. Even as the coach of Barça’s greatest rival, Mourinho couldn’t deny the greatness of Messi. 🐐Mourinho: “Talking about Messi is complicated because there are almost no words capable of describing the quality he has as a player.”“He’s the kind of player football will truly…— Barca Lab (@BarcaTheLab) September 3, 2026 Messi announced his retirement from the Albiceleste on August 31, closing the book on a 21-year international career that included the 2026 World Cup runner-up finish, the 2022 World Cup title, and a string of Copa America triumphs. With Mourinho now among those admitting he’ll tune into Major League Soccer just to keep watching him, the tribute adds to the wave of recognition Messi has received from rivals and peers across the sport since stepping away from the national team. How many times Messi and Mourinho faced each other Beyond Thursday’s comments, Mourinho and Messi built one of the most storied rivalries in modern football from the touchline and the pitch, facing off 25 times across Mourinho’s spells at Real Madrid, Chelsea and Inter Milan. Messi’s teams came out ahead overall, winning 9 of those meetings compared to 7 for Mourinho, with the rest ending level. The bulk of the rivalry played out during Mourinho’s three years at Real Madrid, where the two met 17 times with Messi present in every single one, with Mourinho winning 5, losing 6 and drawing 6. Their paths also crossed 4 times while Mourinho managed Inter Milan, and another 4 times during his Chelsea tenure, giving Messi the frequent battles that Mourinho has since credited with pushing him to evolve as a coach.
Tap a headline to view metadata and excerpt fields in Sportra, then use the article website button to continue on the original publisher page.
