Portugal advance to the World Cup 2026 Round of 16 after a 2-1 victory over Croatia in Toronto. Croatia take an early second-half lead through Ivan Perišić, putting the momentum with the side aiming for a late equalizer. Cristiano Ronaldo responds for Portugal by scoring a penalty kick to level the match in the 68th minute. The game then turns into a late drama: Gonçalo Ramos heads in a winner in stoppage time, putting Portugal ahead 2-1. In the final moments, Croatia believe they have scored an equalizer, but the goal is disallowed after a VAR review for offside. Several reports describe the VAR decision as controversial or disputed by Croatia’s players, with the play appearing to end in offside just before the final whistle. With the win, Portugal qualify for the last 16 and are set to face Spain, while Croatia’s Luka Modrić is widely noted as playing what could be his final World Cup match.
Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 in Toronto, reach World Cup 2026 Round of 16 vs Spain
Portugal advance to the World Cup 2026 Round of 16 after a 2-1 victory over Croatia in Toronto. Croatia take an early second-half lead through Ivan Perišić, putting the momentum with the side aiming f...
- Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 in a Round of 32 match in Toronto.
- Ivan Perišić gives Croatia the lead shortly after halftime.
- Cristiano Ronaldo equalizes for Portugal from the penalty spot (68th minute).
- Gonçalo Ramos scores the winning header in stoppage time.
- Croatia’s late equalizer is ruled out after a VAR check for offside; Portugal advance to play Spain.
Portugal survived a wild, sprawling finish in Toronto to edge Croatia 2-1 and reach the last 16, a night defined by Cristiano Ronaldo’s first-ever World Cup knockout goal, Gonçalo Ramos’ late header, and a dramatic VAR intervention that denied Josko Gvardiol a stoppage‑time equaliser. Croatia had led through Ivan Perisic and looked the sharper side […] By Faz Ali
1 month agoThese Round of 32 matches are definitely full of twists. Portugal came back from 1-0 down to beat Croatia in Toronto. Goncalo Ramos scored a stoppage-time winner after Cristiano Ronaldo had earlier equalised from the penalty spot.
1 month agoGONCALO Ramos scored a late, late winner as Portugal came from behind to sneak this tug-of-war Toronto tussle at the FIFA World Cup 2026™. Ivan Perisic had given Croatia the lead shortly after the break, but Cristiano Ronaldo’s third goal of these finals drew Portugal level. Ramos then rose highest to send a Rafael Leao […]
1 month agoPortugal advanced to the round of 16 after a 2-1 win against Croatia at Toronto Stadium on Thursday. Croatia legend Luka Modrić, age 40 and likely playing for the last time at a World Cup, looked crestfallen at the final whistle. The 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo lives to fight another day and couldn't hide his relief when just moments earlier he stood helplessly on the sidelines in anguish, believing Portugal had blown it.
1 month agoTORONTO— At 41, Cristiano Ronaldo will get another match in a Portugal uniform, thanks to a penalty he scored, a stoppage time header by Goncalo Ramos, and a VAR ruling the Croatia team still doesn’t understand. Ramos headed in the winner as Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 in a wild finish that also included a Croatian goal disallowed for offside just before the final whistle in a World Cup round of 32 match on Thursday night. READ: Cristiano Ronaldo becomes first player to score in six World Cups The game featured a matchup of 40-somethings — Ronaldo, in his sixth World […]...Keep on reading: World Cup: Portugal rallies to beat Croatia and advance to round of 16
1 month agoTORONTO, Canada — Substitute Goncalo Ramos’s headed goal edged Portugal into the last 16 of the World Cup on Thursday after Croatia were dramatically denied an equalizer by VAR. Ramos settled a classic World Cup game when he connected with a superb pass from Rafael Leao in the fourth minute of stoppage time to snuff out a Croatia team which had created the lion’s share of the chances in sapping heat in Toronto. Croatia thought they had snatched a goal in the dying seconds of extra time, but Josko Gvardiol’s goal was chalked off for offside. The Croatians were left stunned […]...Keep on reading: World Cup: Portugal, Ronaldo advance, thanks to last-gasp Ramos winner
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