Croatia captain Luka Modric has called on Portugal to give Cristiano Ronaldo a proper farewell from international football, describing the forward as the greatest player in the country’s history.

Modric believes Ronaldo deserves another opportunity to bring his international career to an appropriate conclusion, regardless of whether the veteran forward decides to retire from the Portugal national team.

According to Fabrizio Romano on X on Wednesday, Modric said: “Cristiano is the greatest player in the history of Portugal, and he deserves another farewell and another ending with the national team.”

The comments come amid uncertainty over Ronaldo’s future with Portugal, with questions surrounding how and when the veteran striker will bring his international career to an end.

Modric expressed his disappointment at the situation, saying it was unfortunate to see Ronaldo facing such circumstances in his own country.

“It’s sad to see this happening to Cristiano in his own country,” he said.

The Croatian midfielder remains hopeful that a solution will be found to ensure Ronaldo receives the send-off he deserves.

“Still, I think they will find a solution, because Cris deserves, whether he retires or decides not to continue with the national team, to have a great farewell that reflects what he deserves,” Modric said.

“I don’t know exactly what happened, but I hope the situation gets resolved.”

Ronaldo has been a central figure in Portuguese football for nearly two decades and has established himself as one of the country’s most recognisable footballers.

His international career has included major tournament success with Portugal, while his longevity and record-breaking performances have made him a defining figure in the history of the national team.

Modric, who has faced Ronaldo numerous times at both club and international level, believes the Portugal captain’s contribution should be properly recognised whenever his international career eventually comes to an end.