When Portugal faced Croatia in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32, referee Espen Eskås helped ease the tension ahead of what was likely the last Finals appearance for either Cristiano Ronaldo or Luka Modrić, sharing a lighthearted joke with the pair before kickoff that only they could truly appreciate.
On this occasion, the 38-year-old FIFA official was actually the youngest among the World Cup's elder statesmen. With the exception of Lionel Messi and Harry Kane, the majority of standout performers at the 2026 World Cup have been in their 20s or younger, including Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, and Lamine Yamal.
The exchange occurred prior to Portugal's 2-1 victory over Croatia in the Round of 32. In the buildup to the match, much discussion centered on the remarkable longevity of both Ronaldo, aged 41, and Modrić, aged 40.
Both icons approached the coin toss fully aware that this tournament was, in all likelihood, their final World Cup. Eskås managed to draw smiles from the duo with a quip that was captured on his point-of-view camera, reports the Mirror US.
Finding himself alongside two players older than himself, the Norwegian official seized the opportunity for a moment of levity. Eskås joked, "Finally, I'm with two guys older than me also." Both Modrić and Ronaldo broke into laughter and shared a smile ahead of kickoff.
Born in Oslo in 1988, Eskås has held FIFA referee status since 2017. He officiated Uruguay's 2-2 group-stage draw with Cape Verde on June 22, distributing four yellow cards: one each to Uruguay's Mathias Olivera and Rodrigo Bentancur, and two to Cape Verde defenders Sidny Lopes Cabral and Diney Borges.
The Norwegian took charge of the Ronaldo-Modrić game on July 3, issuing three yellow cards and awarding a penalty, which Ronaldo converted for Portugal's opening goal.
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Ronaldo and Modrić share a storied history as former Real Madrid teammates, having claimed the UEFA Champions League title together on four occasions. The referee's camera captured the pair sharing a laugh before one would ultimately eliminate the other from the tournament.
Modrić stands as Croatia's most decorated player, having featured in every tournament the nation has qualified for over the past twenty years. The 2018 Ballon d'Or winner holds the distinction of being Croatia's oldest goalscorer at the European Championship and their record appearance holder.
Ronaldo featured in Portugal's final match against Spain before the team's Round of 16 exit. After the game, the Al-Nassr star confirmed this was his final World Cup.
Portugal's most-capped player with 233 appearances, Ronaldo is also his nation's all-time leading scorer. He became the first men's player to find the net at six different World Cups and has guided Portugal to victory in the Euros and the Nations League on two occasions.
Source: Alloutsoccer.com
