Gonzalo Ramos’ late strike put Portugal past Croatia, but Josko Gvardiol’s subsequent equalizer was also denied, with his shot canceled out by VAR. Ronaldo was unable to watch from the bench due to his absence, but took part in an emotional celebration in honor of Diogo Jota.
After the match, focus quickly shifted to his future. The 41-year-old is not distracted by that as the team is currently preparing to face Spain.
“It doesn’t matter right now,” he said after winning the player of the match award, according to Goal. “After you win or lose a tournament, you have time to talk about it. You talk to your family and then you make the most appropriate decision.”
He added: “I no longer make decisions in the heat of the moment, everything is done calmly now. All that matters to me at the moment is to enjoy the moment and help the national team.”
Ronaldo had a few words for former teammate Luka Modric. With Croatia’s departure, the veteran midfielder will likely play his final World Cup match. “Yes, I said goodbye to him,” Ronaldo said.
“He remains a legend in the world of football and we are close in age. I have great respect for what Modric represents in football.”
Before the match between Portugal and Croatia, Ronaldo’s sister Katie Aveiro suggested this could be the end of the former Real Madrid star’s international career. “According to the information I have, they can say goodbye,” Aveiro told Portuguese broadcaster SportTV before kick-off.
“Enjoy it while it lasts. It’s not today that they say goodbye, but it’s coming soon. I believe this is their goodbye. Have lots of fun. You’ll be hard-pressed to find someone like him.”
“I’m talking about the national team. I think this is his last dance, according to information I have received from reliable sources.
“For intelligent people, people who like football must like Ronaldo. People who don’t like Ronaldo don’t like football. They’re the losers.”
“He’s been tearing it up for over 20 years. Do they think we’re not happy? Look at where we are, the Aveiro family, and where we’ve come from.
“When you think about where we come from, we’ve accomplished so much…Given the struggles we’ve gone through, what my brother went through, what my mother accomplished…do they think criticism will get in the way of our happiness? Absolutely not.”
