Portugal defeated Croatia in the round of 32 knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on 2 July 2026. The match took place at Toronto Stadium, Ontario, Canada. Cristiano Ronaldo and Goncalo Ramos scored the decisive goals that took Portugal through to the next round.
Croatia had taken an early lead through Ivan Perisic, but Portugal showed a strong second-half performance. Consequently, Portugal will now play Spain in the Round of 16 in Dallas on Monday, July 6. Unfortunately, Croatia is knocked out of the World Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo Breaks Knockout Goal Curse
Cristiano Ronaldo reached a major milestone in this match. He scored his first goal ever in a World Cup knockout stage. The legendary forward had never scored in the tournament’s knockout stages prior to this game. Specifically, he scored a penalty in the 67th minute to bring Portugal level.
The referee awarded the penalty after a VAR review showed a foul on Renato Veiga. A Croatian defender used two hands to bring Veiga down inside the penalty area. Ronaldo stepped up and confidently took the chance. Additionally, Ronaldo went down in history as the oldest outfield player to play a World Cup knockout game, ever. He’s still setting world records at 41.
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Portugal Pull Off Dramatic Second Half Comeback
The match began with a cagey first half, which saw Portugal dominate possession. They didn’t create too many chances before half-time. Croatia stunned the Portuguese side with an early second-half goal. Perisic fired in a low, powerful shot in the 53rd minute. Josip Stanisic delivered the cross and finished clinically to put Croatia in front.
Portugal manager Roberto Martinez responded quickly, making four substitutions in the 62nd minute. He brought in Bernardo Silva, Nelson Semedo, Francisco Conceicao and Goncalo Ramos. Those tactical changes turned the game’s momentum. Consequently, Portugal began to put more pressure on the Croatian defence. After Ronaldo’s equaliser, Portugal continued to search for a winning goal.
Joncalo Ramos Seals Victory in Stoppage Time
When the clock ticked past the 90th minute, it looked as if the game was going into extra time. But Portugal got a winner in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Rafael Leao with a perfect cross from the left flank. Goncalo Ramos beat the Croatian defenders to the ball and headed it into the net.
This goal sparked massive celebrations by the Portuguese players and fans. Ramos, 25, showed great strength to get past three defenders to the ball. The referee also added a total of 10 minutes time for various VAR checks and injury breaks. Portugal had to dig in bravely for the remaining minutes to maintain their lead.
Is Cristiano Ronaldo Retiring After World Cup 2026
Cristiano Ronaldo has not yet made a final decision about his retirement after the 2026 World Cup. Following Portugal’s win over Croatia on July 2, Ronaldo said he doesn’t make reckless decisions and will determine his future after the tournament is over.
Kátia Aveiro, Ronaldo’s sister, hinted this World Cup is her brother’s “last dance” with the Portugal national team. A reliable source told her that he could be saying goodbye soon, but she said he did not plan to retire immediately after the Croatia match.
Ronaldo told reporters in June 2026 he has “not ruled out” playing in the 2030 World Cup despite his sister’s suggestions. Morocco, Spain and homeland Portugal will co-host that tournament.
ALSO READ: Why Cristiano Ronaldo Received His First Red Card for Portugal in 22 Years?
Technology Decides Match After VAR Controversy
Croatia thought they had equalised in the 103rd minute of play. Josko Gvardiol put the ball in the net after a scramble inside the box. However, the referee consulted the VAR monitor to check for an offside position. The official eventually disallowed the goal because of a very slight touch earlier in the play.
The decision relied on new technology inside the match ball. The Adidas “Trionda” ball has IMU sensors that can detect the slightest touch. The sensors showed that Igor Matanovic was offside when he touched the ball. This touch changed the ball’s path towards Gvardiol. FIFA said the technology has a “heartbeat graphic” to help officials make correct decisions. The controversial call was the final nail in Croatia’s hopes for a comeback.
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