RONALDO OR MODRIC'S LAST PORT OF CALL

For two Toronto diasporas, the Portugal-Croatia clash offers them a historic opportunity

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The World Cup has produced many magical moments so far, but perhaps none more poetic than Portugal and Croatia meeting in a last-32 clash on July 2 (July 3, Singapore time) in Toronto, whose huge Portuguese and Croatian communities have been handed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, is coming to town for the first time since 2009.

Croatia’s Luka Modric, 40, is returning after his 200th international appearance in the city last week.

Both have won the Ballon d’Or — Ronaldo five times.

But for one of them, July 2 could be the final time they grace the pitch on the world’s biggest stage.

It is a moment that two large diaspora communities in Toronto could have only dreamed of experiencing.

Ontario is home to nearly 100,000 people of Croatian descent, the provincial government has said, and more than 300,000 people of Portuguese descent.

Many of them reside in the Greater Toronto Area, setting up a fitting backdrop for the match.

Carina Paradela, director of operations at the First Portuguese Canadian Cultural Centre of Toronto, said Portugal playing in the city was very special for the community.