Thanks to a Ronaldo penalty, a headed goal from Gonçalo Ramos in the 94th minute, and a VAR decision that sparked widespread protests, Portugal edged Croatia 2-1 in the Round of 16 at the World Cup.
The match featured a duel between two over-40 players—Ronaldo, appearing in his sixth World Cup, and Croatia’s Luka Modrić, making his fifth World Cup appearance.
Croatia appeared to have equalized late on to make it 2-2, but after a 2.5-minute delay, Mario Pašalić’s goal was disallowed following a VAR review. Croatian fans responded by throwing bottles onto the pitch and whistling in protest.
World Cup 2026
Portugal 2–1 Croatia (0–0 at halftime)
Goals: Perišić I., 53 (0–1); Ronaldo, 68 (penalty) (1–1); Ramos G., 94 (2–1)
Portugal: Costa D.; Cancelo (Ramos G., 63); Veiga; Mendes N.; Dias R.; Vitinha F. (Silva B., 62); Fernandes B. (Semedo N., 63); Neves J.P.; Ronaldo (Neves R., 81); Leão R.; Pedro Neto (Conceição F., 63)
Substitutions: Silva B. (62); Semedo N. (63); Conceição F. (63); Ramos G. (63); Neves R. (81)
Bench: José Sá; Rui Silva; Araújo T.; Dalot; Inácio; Costa S.; Mateus Nunes; Félix J.; Guedes G.; Trincão
Yellow cards: Dias R. 17
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