Luka Modric Slams VAR After Croatia’s Heartbreaking FIFA World Cup Exit Against Portugal

Croatia captain Luka Modric launched a scathing criticism of VAR following his team’s controversial 2-1 defeat to Portugal in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32. The veteran midfielder expressed frustration over two major decisions that played a crucial role in Croatia’s elimination from the tournament.

Portugal secured their place in the Round of 16 thanks to goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonçalo Ramos, but the match was overshadowed by VAR interventions that left Croatian players and supporters furious.

Modric Questions Ronaldo’s Penalty Decision

The biggest talking point came during the second half when Portugal were awarded a penalty after a VAR review. With Croatia leading 1-0, referee Espen Eskas was advised to review an incident involving Nikola Vlašić and Renato Veiga inside the penalty area.

After examining the replay on the pitch-side monitor, the referee pointed to the spot. Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up and calmly converted the penalty to level the match.

Modric strongly disagreed with the decision, insisting the incident did not warrant a penalty in a World Cup knockout match.

“That penalty… If it were the other way around, VAR would never have been included. This is not a penalty. Both players were pushing each other, and both fell. You cannot decide a match like this with such a call,” Modric said.

Croatia’s Late Equaliser Ruled Out

Drama intensified deep into stoppage time when Croatia believed they had scored a dramatic equaliser.

Ivan Perišić delivered a dangerous cross into the penalty area, where Igor Matanović appeared to make a slight touch before the ball reached Mario Pašalić and eventually found Joško Gvardiol, who bundled it into the net.

However, after a lengthy VAR review, the goal was disallowed for offside. Officials ruled that Pašalić was in an offside position after Matanović’s touch, leading to widespread debate.

Modric Challenges Offside Verdict

The Croatian captain was equally unhappy with the offside decision, claiming available footage failed to conclusively prove that Matanović touched the ball before it reached Pašalić.

“He says Matanović touched the ball, but we watched the footage and you cannot clearly see him touching it. If he doesn’t touch the ball, then it’s not offside,” Modric argued.

The decision ultimately denied Croatia a potential extra-time opportunity and sealed their exit from the tournament.

VAR Debate Reignited

Modric’s comments have reignited the ongoing debate surrounding VAR’s role in football. While technology was introduced to reduce clear officiating errors, critics continue to argue that subjective interpretations can still influence crucial moments.

The Croatian legend reiterated his long-standing concerns about VAR, stating that the system should only intervene when an error is completely obvious and indisputable.

“VAR should only be used when the mistake is absolutely clear. When decisions can be interpreted in different ways, there should be no intervention,” he said.

Portugal March On, Croatia Bow Out

Despite the controversy, Portugal advanced to the FIFA World Cup Round of 16, keeping alive their hopes of lifting the trophy. Ronaldo once again delivered on the biggest stage, while substitute Gonçalo Ramos proved decisive with the winning goal.

For Croatia and Modric, however, the defeat marked a painful end to their World Cup campaign, with lingering questions about the key decisions that shaped the outcome.

Key Highlights

• Croatia lost 2-1 to Portugal in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32.
• Cristiano Ronaldo scored from the penalty spot after a VAR review.
• Gonçalo Ramos netted the winning goal in stoppage time.
• Croatia had a late equaliser ruled out for offside following VAR intervention.
• Luka Modric criticized both major VAR decisions after the match.
• Portugal progressed to the Round of 16 while Croatia exited the tournament.