Modric and the VAR Storm: Portugal vs Croatia World Cup 2026

[IMAGE 4 – Feature image: Luka Modric reacting to a referee decision]

The Modric Portugal vs Croatia World Cup 2026 tie will be remembered less for the football and more for the officiating. Croatia crashed out of the Round of 32 in a 2-1 defeat wrapped in controversy, and their veteran captain left the pitch furious at the video assistant referee.

A Brave Croatian Display

Croatia matched Portugal for long spells, driven by a masterful midfield performance from their 40-year-old leader. Even after falling behind late, they kept chasing an equaliser.

The Turning Points

[IMAGE 5 – Cristiano Ronaldo scoring the disputed penalty]

Croatia struck first, but Cristiano Ronaldo levelled from a hotly disputed penalty before Goncalo Ramos poked home what proved to be the winner. The real drama, though, came in stoppage time.

The Goal That Never Was

Deep into added time, Josko Gvardiol forced the ball home – only for a lengthy VAR check to rule it out. Semi-automated offside data suggested a faint touch from Igor Matanovic had left Mario Pasalic offside in the build-up.

Modric’s Frustration

After the final whistle, the midfielder disputed the ruling, saying the replays his side reviewed showed no clear evidence of the touch. Analysts online largely agreed the footage looked inconclusive. He was also unhappy with the earlier penalty, arguing the two players simply fell together.

A Wider VAR Debate

Modric’s core argument echoed a familiar one: technology should only overturn clear and obvious errors, not micro-analyse marginal contact that kills the emotion of the game.

The End of an Era

[IMAGE 6 – Modric applauding the fans in an emotional farewell]

This looked like Modric’s farewell on the world stage after more than two decades with Croatia – 202 caps, 29 goals, a 2018 final and 2022 third-place finish. His club future, following his AC Milan spell, remains open.

A Tribute to Diogo Jota

Before kickoff, Portugal honoured the sidelined Diogo Jota, holding up his number 20 shirt during the anthem.

Match Statistics

Stat	Portugal	Croatia
Final score	2	1
Possession	53%	47%
Shots (on target)	14 (5)	11 (4)
Expected goals (xG)	1.82	1.45
Yellow cards	2	4

ClickOneShirt Fan Gear

Honour the midfield greats and back your team into the next round with premium apparel from ClickOneShirt.

Conclusion

Croatia exit under a cloud, but Modric’s legacy is untouchable. Portugal march on to face Spain.