Luka Modric Criticizes VAR After Croatia's World Cup Exit Amid Emotional Fallout

Luka Modric broke down in tears following Croatia's dramatic 2-1 loss to Ghana in the Round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup. At the post-match press conference, Modric sharply criticized the refereeing and the VAR system, particularly regarding the disallowed late equalizer for Croatia. He stated that the referee claimed Mateo Kovačić touched the ball, but video replays showed no evidence of contact, meaning the offside call was unjustified.

Modric also condemned the penalty awarded to Portugal, which Cristiano Ronaldo converted to equalize. He argued it was not a penalty and accused VAR of selective and biased use, often working against Croatia. Modric emphasized that VAR should only intervene in clear, 100% errors, not in ambiguous situations, and lamented that it consistently disadvantaged his team.

When asked if this match marked his last appearance for Croatia, Modric declined to comment, saying the time to discuss it would come soon. He revealed he spoke briefly with Ronaldo after the final whistle but described the exchange as ordinary. Modric reflected on the emotional toll on his teammates, noting how much representing Croatia means to them and how difficult it is to lose in a major tournament with so much national support.