Portugal beat Croatia 2- 1 to reach World Cup round of 16

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Toronto, July 3

Portugal produced a dramatic second-half comeback to defeat Croatia 2 – 1 in the FIFA World Cup round of 32 on Thursday, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring from the penalty spot before Goncalo Ramos headed home the winning goal in stoppage time. Croatia thought they had rescued an equaliser in the closing moments, but VAR ruled the goal out for offside.

Croatia took the lead in the 53rd minute through Ivan Perisic. Portugal responded in the 68th minute when Ronaldo converted a penalty to score his first-ever World Cup knockout stage goal. Ramos then sealed the victory with a late header, sending Portugal into the round of 16, where they will face Spain.

The match also marked a meeting between two of football’s most celebrated veterans. Ronaldo, 41, and Croatia captain Luka Modrić, 40, both continued their pursuit of a first FIFA World Cup title.

“I never felt any of that fear. Yes, nervous. But as always, you have to be very positive for things to go well,” Ronaldo said after scoring the equaliser.

Reflecting on Portugal’s performance, Ronaldo said the team deserved the result despite losing momentum after conceding.

“In the first half we dominated the game. In the second half, after the goal, we had a bit of a panic, but this is football. After the penalty, I think it was a little bit better for us. We created a few chances, and I think at the end of the day we deserved to win the match,” he said.

Ramos, whose stoppage-time header proved decisive, welcomed the opportunity to deliver at a crucial moment.

“I love that type of moment. I love that type of game. I want to play every game like that,” he said.

After the match, Ronaldo paid tribute to his late Portugal teammate Diogo Jota by wearing his jersey during a television interview.

“We knew this before the game. It was such a special moment. We spoke today to our group. The coincidence of life. It’s unbelievable,” Ronaldo said.

The closing stages were overshadowed by controversy after Croatia believed they had equalised deep into stoppage time. Following an extended VAR review, the goal was ruled out for offside, prompting protests from Croatian players and supporters.

Croatia midfielder Petar Sucic questioned the decision, saying, “For me, it’s a regular goal.”

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez defended the ruling, saying the technology used in the match ball confirmed the offside decision.

“The balls now have a chip, and it’s very clear that’s why the VAR intervened. It’s not a subjective opinion,” Martinez said.

The result sends Portugal into the round of 16 against Spain, while Croatia exits the tournament after a dramatic, contentious finish.