Former Real Madrid teammates Cristiano Ronaldo, pictured, and Luka Modric are set to make history on Friday as the first outfield players aged over 40 to face each other at a World Cup when Portugal meet Croatia in the last 32. Photo: IANS
Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric will make history when two outfield players aged over 40-years old face off for the first time in a Fifa World Cup, as Portugal take on Croatia in Friday's Round of 32 clash (kick-off 1am).
But both men are facing questions over whether their status as national heroes is now more of a burden than a boost to their countries' hopes of progressing far in the competition. Prior to this tournament, only Cameroon's Roger Milla had played in a World Cup as an outfield player after turning 40.
Ronaldo and Modric, who won four Uefa Champions Leagues in six seasons together at Real Madrid, have long defied Father Time but have shown their age in what will almost certainly be their final flourish on the global stage.
At 41-years old , Ronaldo defiantly screamed, "I'm back" after netting twice against Uzbekistan as he became the first player to ever score at six World Cups.
