Portugal 2 – 1 Croatia

July 3, 2026:

Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup dreams were kept alive in controversial fashion as he helped his Portugal side fight back from a goal down to beat Croatia 2-1 and set up a mouth-watering last 16 tie with Spain.

VAR denied Josko Gvardiol the chance to be Croatia’s hero despite Manchester City finding the back of the net. The second-half substitute tapped home to make it 2-2 as regulation time spilt into the 113th minute.

The goal was chalked off after it was deemed Igor Matanovic got a touch on Ivan Perisic’s cross, making Mario Pasalic, the assister, offside despite the ball reflecting off Portugal’s Renato Veiga. Following a recommendation by Premier League referee Jarred Gillet for an on-field check, on-pitch official Espen Eskaas decided to rule out the goal.

What was essentially the last kick of the game capped off a whirlwind second half that had seen Croatia take the lead through Ivan Perisic. Cristiano Ronaldo, who had been rumoured before the game to be preparing to retire from international duty in the event of a defeat, levelled the score from the penalty spot. That goal being the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s first-ever in the knockout stages of the World Cup.

Though the 41-year-old was then later subbed off by Roberto Martinez with the game still finely poised, much to his disappointment, Ronaldo could watch on in glee as Goncalo Ramos glanced home a sumptuous Rafael Leao cross in added time.

While there was delight for one veteran in Ronaldo, the opposite was true for Croatia captain Luka Modric, with the 40-year-old likely playing in his last World Cup. Portugal now look forward to a replay of the 2025 Nations League final, where Ronaldo’s side were triumphant against the European Champions, Spain.

More to follow…

The key moments from Toronto…

4: SHOT! Portugal’s only effort of the first half comes four minutes in as Livakovic denies Fernandes early on.

53: GOAL! Perisic fires in the opening goal after a strong start to the second half.

57: OFFSIDE, NO GOAL! Vlasic pokes the ball in, but the linesman’s flag is raised immediately. Stanisic was just offside as he was played in down the right.

58: OFF THE BAR!! Leao cuts in and rattles the bar with a HOWITZER! So close.

61: RONALDO DENIED AN EQUALISER! Ronaldo scores but the linesman’s flag cuts short the celebrations. VAR checks but the decision stands.

63: SUBS! FOUR changes are made by Roberto Martinez. Fernandes, Neto, Vitinha and Cancelo are all hooked off as Semedo, Silva, Conceicao and Ramos are introduced.

66: PENALTY TO PORTUGAL! After review, a penalty is given after Veiga is pulled down in the area by Vlasic.

68: GOAL! Ronaldo calmly slots away his first knockout goal at a World Cup.

75: KOVACIC HITS THE POST! Wow. Costa gets down to a Kovacic shot from the edge of the area to turn it onto the post. It quickly comes back to Kovacic to strike again but Costa keeps it out again.

80: OFFSIDE, NO GOAL! Sucic is the latest player to be denied an equaliser by the offside flag.

82: RONALDO SUBBED OFF! Ruben Neves is introduced in his place.

90: 10 minutes are added on.

90+4: GOAL! Ramos glances home a Leao cross to put Portugal in front.

90+14: GOAL! Gvardiol scores off the bench to take the game into extra time.

90+16: DISALLOWED! Gvardiol’s goal is disallowed for an offside after a VAR check.

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