James and Modric Share Heartfelt Embrace Before Colombia vs. Croatia Match

In Orlando, Florida, before the friendly on Thursday, March 26, James Rodríguez and Luka Modrić embraced. Both players served as captains for their national teams in the United States.

A shared past at Real Madrid

The pair built a professional relationship during several seasons at Real Madrid. James had two spells at the club, from 2014 to 2017 and in 2019–20. Modrić remained at Real Madrid continuously from 2012 until 2025.

Match action in Orlando

The game opened with a fast tempo and early opportunities. Colombia took the lead quickly after a deflection off a Croatian defender. The ricochet wrong-footed the goalkeeper and put La Tricolor ahead.

Croatia reacted soon after and managed to level the score. The equalizer arrived from a rebound off Colombian defender Jhon Lucumí.

The moment captured

The pregame embrace attracted attention from media and fans alike. The image was widely captioned online as “James and Modric Share Heartfelt Embrace Before Colombia vs. Croatia Match”.

Implications beyond a friendly

Despite the exhibition status, both sides have major tournament ambitions. A future World Cup meeting remains possible and adds meaning to the encounter.

Reported by Filmogaz.com. The embrace was one of the evening’s most memorable scenes.