World Cup 2026: Portugal 2-1 Croatia - Cristiano Ronaldo's dreams survive after late VAR drama forces Luka Modric farewell
Match report as Portugal avoided a late Croatia equaliser thanks to a controversial disallowed goal to book a spot in the last 16; Ivan Perisic scored first before Cristiano Ronaldo hit back from the spot; Goncalo Ramos scored the winner off the bench; Portugal to play Spain in the last 16
Friday 3 July 2026 04:01, UK
Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup dreams were kept alive in controversial fashion as he helped his Portugal side fight back from a goal down to beat Croatia 2-1 and set up a mouth-watering last-16 tie with Spain.
VAR denied Josko Gvardiol the chance to be Croatia's hero despite Manchester City finding the back of the net. The second-half substitute tapped home to make it 2-2 as regulation time spilt into the 113th minute.
The goal was chalked off after it was deemed Igor Matanovic got a touch on Ivan Perisic's cross, making Mario Pasalic, the assister, offside despite the ball reflecting off Portugal's Renato Veiga. Following a recommendation by Premier League referee Jarred Gillet for an on-field check, on-pitch official Espen Eskaas decided to rule out the goal.
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What was essentially the last kick of the game capped off a whirlwind second half that had seen Croatia take the lead through Perisic. Cristiano Ronaldo, who had been rumoured before the game to be preparing to retire from international duty in the event of a defeat, levelled the score from the penalty spot. That goal being the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's first-ever in the knockout stages of the World Cup.
Though the 41-year-old was then later subbed off by Roberto Martinez with the game still finely poised, much to his disappointment, Ronaldo could watch on in glee as Goncalo Ramos glanced home a sumptuous Rafael Leao cross in added time.
While there was delight for one veteran in Ronaldo, the opposite was true for Croatia captain Luka Modric, with the 40-year-old likely playing in his last World Cup. Having marked the first anniversary of Diogo Jota's tragic passing with a victory, Portugal now look forward to a replay of the 2025 Nations League final, where Ronaldo's side were triumphant against the European Champions, Spain.
The key moments from Toronto...
4: SHOT! Portugal's only effort of the first half comes four minutes in as Livakovic denies Fernandes early on.
53: GOAL! Perisic fires in the opening goal after a strong start to the second half.
57: OFFSIDE, NO GOAL! Vlasic pokes the ball in, but the linesman's flag is raised immediately. Stanisic was just offside as he was played in down the right.
58: OFF THE BAR!! Leao cuts in and rattles the bar with a HOWITZER! So close.
61: RONALDO DENIED AN EQUALISER! Ronaldo scores but the linesman's flag cuts short the celebrations. VAR checks but the decision stands.
63: SUBS! FOUR changes are made by Roberto Martinez. Fernandes, Neto, Vitinha and Cancelo are all hooked off as Semedo, Silva, Conceicao and Ramos are introduced.
66: PENALTY TO PORTUGAL! After review, a penalty is given after Veiga is pulled down in the area by Vlasic.
68: GOAL! Ronaldo calmly slots away his first knockout goal at a World Cup.
75: KOVACIC HITS THE POST! Wow. Costa gets down to a Kovacic shot from the edge of the area to turn it onto the post. It quickly comes back to Kovacic to strike again but Costa keeps it out again.
80: OFFSIDE, NO GOAL! Sucic is the latest player to be denied an equaliser by the offside flag.
82: RONALDO SUBBED OFF! Ruben Neves is introduced in his place.
90: 10 minutes are added on.
90+4: GOAL! Ramos glances home a Leao cross to put Portugal in front.
90+14: GOAL! Gvardiol scores off the bench to take the game into extra time.
90+16: DISALLOWED! Gvardiol's goal is disallowed for an offside after a VAR check.
Analysis: Ronaldo isn't the whole problem
Is the problem really Ronaldo? Much of the discourse, just as it has been during his 20-plus-year career, has been about Cristiano Ronaldo. That won't change for the duration of the tournament, but very little emphasis is placed on his supposed 'golden generation' team-mates that have failed to deliver. The midfield that was raved about in the build-up to the tournament struggles to dictate play.
It's a treble of players that includes a podium Ballon d'Or star in Vitinha, a back-to-back Champions League winner in Joao Neves and the Premier League Player of the Season in Bruno Fernandes. All three have wilted under pressure, beyond their win against Uzbekistan.
The chatter ahead of Portugal's clash against Spain will be whether Goncalo Ramos should start in Ronaldo's place. While the discussion would be fair, Ronaldo actually delivered through his penalty. Two out of the three aforementioned midfield trio were hooked, allowing Portugal to play more fluidly.
Roberto Martinez has a bad headache when it comes to selecting his team now, and it's not just about Ronaldo.
Ramos: I love these moments
Portugal forward Goncalo Ramos:
"It's difficult because it's a game if you don't win, you go home. But for me, especially, I love those types of moments, I love those types of games, I want to play every game like that, I want to be in the big moment."
