Portugal beats Croatia 2-1 after late VAR drama, Ronaldo scores first knockout goal to set up Spain clash
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first ever World Cup knockout goal from the penalty spot as Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 in a chaotic round-of-16 match in Toronto, setting up a quarterfinal against Spain.
Match summary
Portugal defeated Croatia 2-1 in the round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, surviving a frantic finish that saw a Croatian equaliser disallowed in the 13th minute of added time. The match at a sold-out BMO Field in Toronto (43,000 spectators) pitted two veteran captains against each other: Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, and Luka Modrić, 40, both likely appearing in their final World Cup.
After a goalless first half, Ivan Perišić put Croatia ahead in the 53rd minute, firing home from a Josip Stanišić assist. The goal was Perišić's seventh at World Cups, moving him past Davor Šuker as Croatia's all-time top scorer at the tournament. Portugal equalised in the 68th minute when Ronaldo converted a penalty awarded after a VAR review for Nikola Vlašić's foul on Renato Veiga. It was Ronaldo's first goal in a World Cup knockout match, on his 41st birthday year.
- Kick-off at BMO Field, Toronto
- Ivan Perišić scores for Croatia (1-0)
- Cristiano Ronaldo converts penalty (1-1)
- Gonçalo Ramos heads winner (2-1)
- Croatia equaliser disallowed for offside after VAR
- Final whistle; Portugal advances to quarterfinals
Late chaos and disallowed goal
Gonçalo Ramos headed Portugal in front in the 95th minute from a Rafael Leão cross. In the 106th minute, Croatia thought they had levelled when Mario Pašalić (or Joško Gvardiol, depending on the source) scored, but the goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR check. Croatian players argued the ball had touched a Portuguese head en route, which they believed should have reset the offside phase. The referee blew the final whistle in the 110th minute, sparking Portuguese celebrations and Croatian dismay.
Ronaldo's milestone and retirement hints
Before the match, Ronaldo's sister Kátia Aveiro told Portuguese television that her brother would retire from international football after the tournament.
Enjoy it while it lasts, because it will soon be over. I have this information from a very reliable source.
No official confirmation has come from Ronaldo or the Portuguese federation. Ronaldo was substituted in the 81st minute and watched the dramatic finale from the bench. He now has 146 international goals in 232 appearances.
What's next
Portugal will face Spain in the quarterfinals. Croatia's exit marks the end of Modrić's fifth World Cup campaign. The match was the last to be played at BMO Field during this tournament.
