World Cup 2026: Luka Modrić criticizes VAR after Croatia's elimination

02.07.26 FT World Cup

Portugal

2

:

Croatia

1

Eliminated from the 2026 World Cup after their defeat to Portugal, Croatia exited the tournament following a match marked by several controversial VAR decisions.

At the heart of the post-match discussion, Luka Modrić did not hide his frustration. The 40-year-old Croatian captain believes several situations could have turned out differently without video intervention:

This was one of our best matches. We could have won it earlier, but we missed our chances, and then some decisions are hard to understand.

The midfielder specifically questioned a late goal that was ruled out, arguing there was no clear evidence of an offside position. According to him, there was no proof that a Croatian player had even touched the ball.

I watched it back, and honestly, I don’t think it was offside. In a match of this magnitude, these are the moments that decide who advances and who goes home.

Modrić went even further in his criticism, suggesting that some referee decisions could have been interpreted differently in another context or against a different team:

It’s incredibly hard to accept this result. I feel like I’ve been robbed. For me, it was absolutely not a penalty. At that point in the match, we had the momentum, we were controlling the game, and a single decision changed everything.

Although initially reserved about the introduction of VAR, the Croatian captain now acknowledges its usefulness, while still condemning what he sees as inconsistent use of the system.

Aliou Toundé |

Editorfr

Related teams and leagues

Portugal

Croatia

World Cup