Luka Modrić. Ivan Perisic. Joško Gvardiol. Mislav Oršić. All of them played their part in one of the most dramatic evenings of this World Cup. All of them went home.
Portugal 2-1 Croatia. Gonçalo Ramos headed the winner in the 94th minute. Gvardiol had an equaliser disallowed in controversial circumstances that Croatia will discuss for months. Four goals ruled out across the match. Cristiano Ronaldo scoring his first World Cup knockout goal at 41 years old, setting the record as the oldest player to appear in the knockout stage of a World Cup. And Diogo Jota — who died in a car accident one year before this tournament began — somewhere in the minds of every Portugal supporter throughout the evening.
This was the last game to be played in Toronto. The Canadian city was given a proper send-off.
The first half was goalless and tight. Portugal dominated most of the ball but were unable to create any clear-cut chances. Bruno Fernandes was denied twice in the fourth minute — first by a Dominik Livaković save, then by a desperate defensive block. Ronaldo smashed a free-kick into the wall. Renato Veiga headed over from a Nuno Mendes corner, unmarked eight yards out. Portugal came close repeatedly and found nothing. Croatia, compact and disciplined as they always are in knockout football, absorbed everything and waited.
Then Perisic in the 53rd minute. Still going at 40. Still producing. He received the ball in the box and <cite index=”11-1″>lashed in a low strike across goal to give Croatia the lead.</cite> A goal that was greeted by delirium from Croatia’s supporters and immediate belief that their side — which Dalic had built around exactly this kind of counter-punch — could see this through.
Croatia thought they were two up three minutes later. Matanovic turned in Mario Pasalic’s low cross. The goal was given. VAR took it away. Pasalic had mistimed his run. Offside. Croatia’s second goal of the tournament disallowed by the narrowest of margins.
The goals being ruled out became the theme of an extraordinary evening. Ronaldo himself had a moment of magic overturned — he controlled Cancelo’s cross-field ball and finished past Livaković with a touch of brilliance that had the whole stadium briefly on its feet. VAR ruled he had moved a fraction early. The frustration on his face was total.
Then the penalty. Nikola Vlasic inexplicably wrestled Veiga to the ground inside the box. <cite index=”11-1″>Referee Espen Eskas awarded a penalty after a VAR review, which Ronaldo fired down the middle</cite> past Livaković. 1-1. <cite index=”11-1″>Ronaldo’s first World Cup knockout goal of his career.</cite> At 41. In his sixth tournament. He celebrated with something close to relief rather than joy — as though a weight he had been carrying for years had been partially lifted.
Croatia refused to accept it. <cite index=”11-1″>Kovacic twice came close to restoring Croatia’s lead in the 75th minute, bending a low effort against the post after a driving run from midfield then seeing his 20-yard follow-up effort tipped over by Costa.</cite> The post. Again. Croatia could not believe it.
Martínez substituted Ronaldo in the 81st minute. A standing ovation. Not quite the send-off that will define his legacy, but a moment acknowledged by both sets of supporters in Toronto. His tournament continues.
Then Gvardiol. In the dying minutes, he arrived at a corner delivery and turned it into the net. The stadium split between joy and anxiety. VAR checked. The flag had been raised. Offside. <cite index=”11-1″>Josko Gvardiol had an equaliser controversially disallowed.</cite> Croatia were devastated. The replays were close enough that “controversial” was the only fair word.
Four minutes into stoppage time, Ramos arrived. <cite index=”12-1″>Ramos headed Portugal into the lead in the 94th minute of the game, rising high to power in from Rafael Leão’s cross.</cite> His first touch of the match had been the ball he put in the net. Portugal were in front. Croatia had the remaining minutes and a Perisic yellow card in the 90+7th minute that told you the temperature of the closing stages.
<cite index=”10-1″>After a 2-1 victory, Portugal will now face Spain for a place in the quarter-finals.</cite> That match is on Monday in Dallas. Ronaldo and Yamal, old master and teenage prodigy, on the same pitch in a World Cup knockout game. The sport at its most compelling.
Croatia’s World Cup ends here. <cite index=”14-1″>Cristiano Ronaldo has become the oldest player to ever play in the knockout stage of the World Cup.</cite> For Modrić — who turns 41 before the year is out — Tuesday in Toronto was almost certainly his last World Cup match. He played the full 90. He was magnificent. He did not deserve to be on the losing side. Football did not care.
For live World Cup scores and Round of 16 coverage, visit fawanews.org.uk. Full results, standings and knockout bracket at the official FIFA World Cup website.
Portugal 2-1 Croatia FIFA World Cup 2026, Round of 32, Match 83 | Thursday, 2 July 2026 Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada | Referee: Espen Eskas
Goals: Ivan Perisic 53′ (Croatia), Cristiano Ronaldo 68′ pen (Portugal — Vlasic foul on Veiga), Gonçalo Ramos 90’+4′ (Portugal, assist: Rafael Leão cross — header)
Disallowed goals: Matanovic 56′ (Croatia, offside — Pasalic), Ronaldo (Portugal, offside), Gvardiol (Croatia, offside — controversial)
Yellow Cards: Rúben Dias 17′ (Portugal, serious foul play) | Ivan Perisic 90’+7′ (Croatia, serious foul play)
Portugal: Costa; Cancelo, Dias, Araújo, Mendes; Veiga, Vitinha, Fernandes; Leão, Ronaldo (Ramos 81′), Neves J.
Croatia: Livaković; Juranovic, Gvardiol, Sutalo, Sosa; Modrić, Kovacic, Vlasic (Pasalic sub), Perisic; Budimir, Oršić (Matanovic sub)
Stats: Possession Portugal 55% — Croatia 37% (8% contested) | Attempts 15-13 | On Target 3-6 | Half-time: 0-0
Records: Ronaldo — oldest player to appear in World Cup knockout stage. First World Cup knockout goal of his career.
Round of 16: Portugal vs Spain (Dallas Stadium, Monday 7 July)
