In a highly anticipated match between two football legends, Cristiano Ronaldo came out on top with a milestone goal in Portugal's win over Croatia. The 39-year-old striker became the first player to score 900 official goals for both club and country, solidifying his place as one of the greatest players of all time. Meanwhile, elsewhere in the Nations League, Spain was held to a draw by Serbia and San Marino achieved their first competitive victory.
As Portugal prepares to host Croatia and Scotland in their Nations League matches, coach Roberto Martinez is determined to bring out the best in his team after their Euro 2024 quarterfinal loss to France. Martinez acknowledges the criticism from fans but believes the internal demands are even greater and will fuel his team to defend their title.
On day 7 of the Paris Paralympics, Indian athlete Sachin Sarjerao Khilari won a silver medal in the Men's Shot Put event. He threw an impressive 16.32m, setting an area record in the process. The gold medal went to Greg Stewart of Canada, while Luka Bakovic of Croatia won bronze. This adds to India's total medal tally of 21 at the games, cementing Khilari's position as one of the country's top athletes in the Paralympics.
In a recent interview, Barcelona's Dani Olmo has revealed his admiration for Real Madrid's Luka Modric by choosing him as both his best rival and the player he would like to have on his team. The Spanish international, who rejoined Barcelona this summer, had first joined the club at the young age of nine before leaving for Dinamo Zagreb in 2018. Olmo's choice of Modric serves as a testament to the Croatian midfielder's talent and impact in the world of football.
Real Madrid claimed their sixth UEFA Super Cup title by defeating Atalanta 2-0, thanks to goals from Federico Valverde and new signing Kylian Mbappe. The French superstar, who joined the club on a free transfer from PSG, scored his first goal in his debut match. The win also saw Luka Modric, who has been with Real since 2012, become the most decorated player in the club's history with a staggering 27 trophies.
Under the new 4-3-3 scheme for Real Madrid this season, Carlo Ancelotti plans to bring Luka Modrić back into the spotlight and replicate Toni Kroos' successful formula in the central midfield position. Not only will Modrić start matches, but he will also play a more defensive role, allowing for the rotation of young talents. This decision could potentially affect the future of Aurélien Tchouaméni, who was previously seen as the starter. Real Madrid's first official match against Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup will put this new strategy to the test.
After missing two prime years due to injuries, Klay Thompson is ready to make a comeback with the Dallas Mavericks. Mavericks' superstar Luka Dončić is reportedly ecstatic about the team's new addition, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon. Thompson, a five-time All-Star and four-time NBA champion, brings his impressive shooting skills to Dallas, potentially making them a contender for the upcoming season.
After spending his entire career with the Golden State Warriors, Klay Thompson is reportedly heading south to join the Dallas Mavericks on a three-year, $50 million deal. The Warriors have not yet finalized their end of the deal, leaving fans to speculate what it might entail. The move would bring Thompson to a new team for the first time in his career and reunite him with fellow All-Star Luka Doncic, potentially forming a dynamic backcourt for the defending Western Conference champions.
In a must-win game for Croatia against defending champions Italy, it seemed as though 36-year-old Luka Modric had defied Father Time, becoming the oldest goal scorer in European Championship history to put Croatia ahead. But Italy, needing only a draw, dominated the game and had its fair share of chances amidst a host of lineup changes by head coach Luciano Spalletti. In the end, Croatia's six yellow cards and every trick in the book were not enough to hold off Italy's last-gasp equalizer by substitute Mattia Zaccagni, spilling victory and a spot in the Euro 2024 knockout stage from their grasp.
In a must-win game for Croatia, 36-year-old Luka Modric seemed to turn back the clocks as he became the oldest goal scorer in European Championship history with a stunning strike against defending champions Italy. Despite a valiant and gritty performance, Modric and his side ultimately fell short in the dying minutes of the match, with a late equalizer from Italy substitute Mattia Zaccagni securing their place in the Round of 16 at the expense of Croatia. The result was a gut-wrenching blow for Modric and his team, who put everything on the line in a game where only a victory would have kept their hopes alive.