CR7’s feats in the game vs Croatia
*Cristiano Ronaldo has played his 26th game in the World Cup, surpassing Lothar Matthäus (25) and having only Lionel Messi (29) ahead.
*Cristiano Ronaldo became the oldest player (41 years and 147 days) to feature in a World Cup knockout stage match, while Luka Modrić (40 years and 296 days old) became the 2nd oldest after him.
Peter Shilton (England) was the previous record holder: 40 years 292 days in 1990.
*Cristiano Ronaldo’s and Modrić’s combined total of 49 World Cup matches (26 and 23) is the highest figure for any head-to-head matchup between two players in World Cup history.
They surpassed the total of 46 World Cup matches by Lionel Messi (26) and Hugo Lloris (20) in the 2022 final.
*It is the first time in the history of the World Cup that two outfield players over the age of 40 (Cristiano Ronaldo 41, Luka Modrić 40) .have faced each other.
*It is the first time in the history of football that two players with 200+ senior international caps have faced each other.
*Cristiano Ronaldo was substituted during a World Cup knockout stage match for the second time, following the match against Netherlands on 25 June 2006.
*Cristiano Ronaldo has scored his 25th goal in major tournaments (World Cup, Euro), being the European player with the most such goals, ahead of Harry Kane (20).
*Cristiano Ronaldo has finally scored his first ever World Cup knockout-stage goal.
His previous 10 goals in the competition all came in the group stage.
He has scored most group-stage goals before scoring a first World Cup knockout-stage goal than anyone else. The next are:
Miroslav Klose (Germany) – 9
Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 8
*Cristiano Ronaldo became the oldest goal-scorer in a World Cup knockout stage match in history surpassing his countryman Pepe (39 years 283 days in 2022).
Roger Milla (Сameroon) is the next with 38 years 34 days in 1990.