Luka Modric and Rodrygo went from calling each other 'father and son' to World Cup opponents

Teammates will become opponents on Friday as Luka Modric and Rodrygo Goes square off in the World Cup quarter-final between Brazil and Croatia.

Croatia captain Modric will line up against a number of his Real Madrid colleagues, including Vinicius Jr and Eder Militao.

However, his relationship with Rodrygo is much more than gorgeous outside of the boot assists for him to latch onto.

Rodrygo, 21, is one of the youngest members of the Brazil and Real squads. Incredibly, his dad is just one year younger Modric and that left the former Spurs man stunned.

From that point onwards, they started referring to one another as father and son.

"When he found out that my father was 35-years-old, he didn't believe it," Rodrygo said on Twitter in a Q&A.

"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."

Modric has been with Real since 2012 and after a difficult first season that saw him labelled a flop, he has performed at an exceptionally high level for the last decade.

And he's also been a big influence on Rodrygo, who said as much in an interview this year.

Image: Alamy

"He really helps me," he told the Real Madrid website.

"Playing with him is much easier, given the quality he's got. He's like a father to me."

Modric will turn 38 next year and is playing his final World Cup over in Qatar. 2018 finalists Croatia have secured passage to the quarter-finals after beating Japan on a penalty shoot-out where the Asian side missed three spot-kicks.

Modric was taken off and so didn't take one, but former Chelsea midfielder Mario Pasalic tucked away the winner from 12 yards.

Brazil, meanwhile, trounced South Korea 4-1 later on to set up the showdown at Education City Stadium, where there is a father vs son meeting. Kind of.