Qatar 2022: Father Modric consoles son Rodrygo after penalty heartbreak
In Real Madrid where both play club football Rodrygo often lavish praise on Real Madrid teammate Luka Modric, describing him as a footballing father figure.
Ironically, Rodrygo's father is actually only 35 years old, which is the same age as Modric.
When he found out that my father was 35 years old, he didn't believe it."He then told me I should respect him as he was old enough to be my father."Since then he always calls me son and I call him dad.
But when Croatia played Brazil in the world cup quarter-final match it was son against the father.
The father did not only advance to the semi-final at the expense of the son, the son lost in the penalty shout after the match ended 1-1.
Modric after the shared a classy message with Rodrygo after knocking him out of the World Cup.
The winger came on a second-half substitute and played a big hand in Neymar's goal by playing a one-two with the superstar.
But he could not prevent Brazil's exit and after the shoot-out he was consoled by Modric.
The Croatia captain said to Rodrygo: “Everybody fails. You will come back stronger. I love you son."
Modric knows all about Rodrygo's pain having missed a crucial penalty in Croatia's shoot-out defeat to Turkey in Euro 2008.
The midfielder also publicly shared support for his club team-mate after the match and suggested Rodrygo deserves praise for having the bravery to step up from 12 yards.
He said: "It can happen to anyone. We must congratulate Rodrygo for having the strength and mentality to take and shoot penalties.
"Everyone can fail. I have encouraged him. I get along very well with him, and it's a shame that it was him."
Croatia have now won back-to-back shoot-outs and have a 100 per cent record in penalties at the World Cup.
Croatia now take on Argentina in the semi-final after the South Americans also won a penalty shoot-out against the Netherlands.
Meanwhile Brazil manager Tite has stepped down from his role following their exit from the competition.
