‘Inspired Millions’: Modric Praised as World Cup Career Appears at Endhttps://english.aawsat.com/sports/5291568-%E2%80%98inspired-millions%E2%80%99-modric-praised-world-cup-career-appears-end
‘Inspired Millions’: Modric Praised as World Cup Career Appears at End
Luka Modric #10 of Croatia acknowledges the fans after a 1-2 loss during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between Portugal and Croatia at Toronto Stadium on July 02, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Getty Images/AFP)
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‘Inspired Millions’: Modric Praised as World Cup Career Appears at End
Luka Modric #10 of Croatia acknowledges the fans after a 1-2 loss during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between Portugal and Croatia at Toronto Stadium on July 02, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Getty Images/AFP)
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic and Portugal's Roberto Martinez paid tribute on Thursday to Luka Modric, who almost certainly played his last World Cup match.
After a gut-wrenching 2-1 loss to Portugal in Toronto, Croatia midfielder Modric, 40, shared a long exchange with 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo -- two football greats nearing the end of their international playing careers.
"This was probably his last World Cup, and I'm sorry that it ended this way," said an emotional Dalic. "He has shown his quality and his character and of course he was leading Croatia until the very end."
Martinez lauded the Croatian great for having "inspired millions of kids."
"His example is going to stay in the folklore of football forever," Portugal's coach told reporters, highlighting Modric's in-match thinking.
It's not often that "we talk about that player that can put his foot on the ball and make a decision. I think Modric is the beautiful example of that.
"Depending on how the game goes, he finds the space, he makes the right call. It's incredible to see him play," Martinez said, praising Modric for playing "the game like a young man."
Modric was the driving force behind Croatia's runner-up finish at the 2018 World Cup and their third-place finish in Qatar four years ago.
Ronaldo and Modric, who won four Champions Leagues in six seasons together at Real Madrid, have long defied Father Time but have shown their age in the 2026 tournament.
Ronaldo, who group stage performance was criticized, played his role in Thursday's victory, stroking home an equalizing second-half penalty.
Dalic said Modric was one of Croatia's "key players" on Thursday.
The AC Milan midfielder marked his 200th international appearance in a group-stage match last month, and was hoisted in the air by his teammates following that June 23 victory over Panama.
‘This Is Probably My Last Year in Football,’ Says Cristiano Ronaldohttps://english.aawsat.com/sports/5307930-%E2%80%98-probably-my-last-year-football%E2%80%99-says-cristiano-ronaldo
Portugal's forward #07 Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after losing the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Portugal and Spain at the Dallas Stadium in Arlington on July 6, 2026. (AFP)
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‘This Is Probably My Last Year in Football,’ Says Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal's forward #07 Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after losing the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Portugal and Spain at the Dallas Stadium in Arlington on July 6, 2026. (AFP)
Cristiano Ronaldo says this Saudi Pro League season is likely to be the last of his professional career.
The 41-year-old superstar’s contract with Riyadh club Al-Nassr, signed in December 2022, expires next June, and he has told Vogue magazine that another is unlikely.
“This is probably my last year of football, and I want to leave a spectacular legacy,” Ronaldo said.
The Portugal forward, who has scored 976 career goals, married long-time partner, Georgina Rodriguez, earlier this month.
“I have my future all mapped out,” he said. “I have so many things to keep me busy that to tell you just one thing is hard. Because football could leave a big hole, you have to fill your time in various ways, not just one.
“And also have more fun, travel more, watch and play padel, which I really like, and continue to enjoy what I’ve earned — what we’ve earned. Because after all, it’s been 25 years with a lot of sacrifice.”
The 2026-27 SPL season is Ronaldo’s 25th as a professional. During his career, he has won five Ballon d’Or awards and five UEFA Champions League titles.
Ronaldo’s 28 league goals last season helped Al-Nassr become champion of Saudi Arabia in May to secure his first trophy since arriving in Riyadh, and a first league title for the club since 2019.
After returning from his wedding, he missed Al-Nassr’s first game of its title defense on Saturday, watching from the sidelines as it opened with a 3-0 win over Al-Fateh.
“Cristiano is here today, and he is always present with us,” Al-Nassr coach Ange Postecoglou said after the game.
Ronaldo could play against Al-Diriyah in the King’s Cup on Tuesday.
“The most important thing now is recovery, especially as we have only two days after this match,” former Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest coach Postecoglou said.
Ronaldo’s comments came days after long-time rival Lionel Messi revealed that, following his father’s death, he may soon retire.
“I don’t know how to carry on,” Messi, 39, said. “I used to just play football, and now I’m really not sure if I’ll carry on doing it for much longer.”
Colombia Defender Jhon Lucumí Moves to Juventus After Impressing at World Cuphttps://english.aawsat.com/sports/5307928-colombia-defender-jhon-lucum%C3%AD-moves-juventus-after-impressing-world-cup
Colombia's Jhon Lucumí, left, and Switzerland's Remo Freuler battle for the ball during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Switzerland and Colombia in Vancouver, British Columbia, July 7, 2026. (AP)
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Colombia Defender Jhon Lucumí Moves to Juventus After Impressing at World Cup
Colombia's Jhon Lucumí, left, and Switzerland's Remo Freuler battle for the ball during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Switzerland and Colombia in Vancouver, British Columbia, July 7, 2026. (AP)
Colombia defender Jhon Lucumí signed for Juventus on Monday for 19.5 million euros ($22.6 million) after impressing at the World Cup.
Juventus said the 28-year-old center-back had signed a four-year contract and the fee paid to Serie A rival Bologna could rise above 22 million euros ($25.5 million) with performance bonuses.
Lucumí played almost every minute of Colombia’s five games at the World Cup, where the team conceded just one goal, in an opening 3-1 win over Uzbekistan.
Colombia lost in the round of 16 to Switzerland in a penalty shootout, after a 0-0 draw where Lucumí’s header struck the bar in extra time. He was substituted ahead of the shootout.
Lucumí played four years at Bologna, including in the Champions League two seasons ago, having first arrived in Europe to join Genk in Belgium.
Juventus plays in the Europa League this season after a sixth-place finish in Serie A.
Premier League Is Back and Uncertainty Pervades Start of Post-Guardiola Erahttps://english.aawsat.com/sports/5307915-premier-league-back-and-uncertainty-pervades-start-post-guardiola-era
Football - Premier League - Crystal Palace v Arsenal - Selhurst Park, London, Britain - May 24, 2026 Arsenal's Martin Odegaard lifts the trophy as he celebrates with teammates after winning the Premier League. (Reuters)
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Premier League Is Back and Uncertainty Pervades Start of Post-Guardiola Era
Football - Premier League - Crystal Palace v Arsenal - Selhurst Park, London, Britain - May 24, 2026 Arsenal's Martin Odegaard lifts the trophy as he celebrates with teammates after winning the Premier League. (Reuters)
The post-Pep Guardiola era is getting underway in English football amid uncertainty and upheaval — not just at Manchester City but across the whole of the Premier League.
Get this: Heading into the new top-flight season beginning Friday, nine clubs have new permanent managers — an unprecedented number at the start of an English top-flight campaign. At age 33, Fabian Hürzeler is the fifth longest-serving coach in the Premier League ... and he has been at Brighton for just two years.
The biggest vacuum needing to be filled is at City, following the departure of Guardiola after 10 record-breaking years in charge. Good luck following that, Enzo Maresca, especially after the team's lamentable performance in the Community Shield loss to Arsenal on Sunday.
Among the other top clubs with new coaches are Liverpool (Andoni Iraola), Chelsea (Xabi Alonso) and Newcastle (Matthias Jaissle) — all of which competed in the Champions League last season.
It makes Roberto De Zerbi — appointed by Tottenham on March 31 to escape relegation — and Michael Carrick — installed as interim manager at Manchester United for the second half of last season before impressing and getting the permanent job — seem like veritable veterans.
It also makes Arsenal, the reigning champion, appear a haven of stability as Mikel Arteta goes into his seventh full season at the helm as by far the league’s longest-serving manager.
Yet, there’s a big question mark hanging over the Gunners, too: Will there be a hangover after winning the league for the first time in 22 years?
We’re about to find out, though Arsenal's display in the Community Shield provided early encouragement for its fans.
The non-stop roller coaster that is the Premier League begins in earnest Friday night when Arsenal hosts promoted Coventry, which has a compelling backstory of its own after being out of the big time for 25 years.
Here are some other storylines providing a backdrop to the new season:
Manchester City's Norwegian striker #09 Erling Haaland (L), Manchester City's English midfielder #47 Phil Foden (C) and Manchester City's English midfielder #05 Elliot Anderson (R) look on from their seats after being substituted during the English FA Community Shield football match between Arsenal and Manchester City at The Principality Stadium, in Cardiff, south Wales on August 16, 2026. (AFP)
Is Premier League lacking superstars?
Cristiano Ronaldo left town in 2022. Harry Kane moved away in 2023. Kevin De Bruyne departed in 2025. Mohamed Salah quit for Türkiye this offseason. Rodri looks set to leave these shores for Barcelona, too.
It begs the question: Is the biggest league in the world lacking the biggest players in the world?
OK, City still has prolific striker Erling Haaland, whose brand has never been higher after wowing American fans during the World Cup.
But football superstars like Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Vinícius Júnior, Lamine Yamal and even England's own two top players in Kane and Jude Bellingham play in other countries. All-time greats of this century — think Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho, Zinedine Zidane — never played in England, either.
The big blockbuster deal of the offseason could have been Vinícius joining Arsenal, but he chose to stay at Real Madrid.
The Premier League has recently prided itself in having the world's top coaches, yet Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp are no longer around.
The competition might have to settle, then, for having the greatest strength in depth, with the middle-level clubs having arguably never been better owing to the league's huge broadcasting deals.
Arsenal starts as title favorite
Amid so much turbulence among its rivals, Arsenal has a great opportunity to retain the title.
Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes has joined from Newcastle to bolster an already-strong midfield, left winger Christos Tzolis signed from Club Brugge to replace the departed Leandro Trossard, and there is strength in depth in every position.
Counting against Arsenal, however, is an injury to defensive mainstay William Saliba that will rule out the France center-back for the first few months.
Also, there's an intangible: Will there be a drop-off in intensity or motivation after finally winning the league?
Arteta is determined that won't be the case.
New faces — and some old ones — are back
Welcome back, Marcus Rashford. The England winger has rejoined Manchester United after a loan spell at Barcelona. Whether he wants to be at Old Trafford remains to be seen.
Hello, again, to Frank Lampard, a Premier League great for Chelsea who is now manager of Coventry.
Coventry, a founding member of the Premier League, was relegated in 2001 and plunged into such financial chaos that the club lost its home and went on to drop into the fourth tier.
The Sky Blues' rise is one of English football's feel-good stories and they are back as one of three promoted teams, along with Ipswich and Hull.
Football - Pre-Season Friendly - Fulham v VfB Stuttgart - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - August 15, 2026 Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa before the match. (Reuters)
$3 billion and counting: England still the big spenders
England is in a league of its own when it comes to spending power and Premier League clubs' outlay on new players in this transfer window is approaching $3 billion already.
The biggest signings so far have all been midfielders: Morgan Rogers to Chelsea for $156 million; Elliot Anderson to Man City for $155 million; Sandro Tonali to Tottenham for $133 million; and Guimaraes to Arsenal for $100 million.
Chelsea's net spend is almost $300 million as Alonso reshapes the squad. Tottenham has spent around $300 million on new players alone in a reversal in policy following back-to-back 17th-place finishes.
The window is open for two more weeks, as transfer activity cranks up after the World Cup.
Will Premier League still be set-piece heavy?
A significant change in English football last season was a reversion to old-school tactics such as long throws into the area, a reliance on set pieces and long clearances by goalkeepers, in a perceived snub to the Guardiola-influenced style of play where possession of the ball was king.
With Guardiola now out of the picture, will this trend increase further? Marco Rose at Bournemouth, Pierre Sage at Crystal Palace, Alvaro Arbeloa at Fulham and Alonso at Chelsea are all coaching in the Premier League for the first time. Will this wave of new managers establish another different approach?
Watch this season.
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