Ronaldo and Ramos inspire Portugal's comeback win over Croatia, sister says World Cup is his last

Match comeback

Portugal overturned a 1-0 deficit to beat Croatia in the World Cup round of 16 in Toronto. Ivan Perisic had given Croatia the lead in the 53rd minute, but the Portuguese rallied. Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonçalo Ramos were instrumental, with VAR decisions also playing a role. The match was played in extreme heat, with temperatures reaching 34-37°C.

Ronaldo and Modric's twilight duel

The match pitted two former Real Madrid teammates and Ballon d'Or winners, both over 40, against each other. Ronaldo, 41, and Luka Modric, 40, shared an embrace before kickoff. It was likely their last meeting on the international stage.

Sister reveals retirement plans

Ahead of the match, Ronaldo's sister Katia Aveiro told Portuguese media that this World Cup would be his "last dance" with the national team.

“According to the information I have, you can say goodbye to him. I think this World Cup is his last dance.”

Ronaldo has 145 goals in 232 caps, having won Euro 2016 and two Nations Leagues, but never a World Cup.

Pre-match pressure

Portugal entered the match after a mixed group stage: a draw with DR Congo, a 5-0 win over Uzbekistan (with a Ronaldo double), and a 0-0 draw with Colombia. Coach Roberto Martinez kept faith in Ronaldo despite criticism over his defensive work. Bernardo Silva lost his starting spot, while Joao Felix defended the competitiveness of the Saudi league where Ronaldo plays.