By Francis Onyach - Reporter
USA July 3, 2026 - Portugal Reach World Cup Round of 16 After Late Drama as Croatia's Equalizer Is Ruled Out
Portugal booked their place in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 after surviving a dramatic encounter against Croatia, winning 2-1 in Toronto in a match that featured stunning goals, VAR controversy, and heartbreak for Luka Modrić's side.
Roberto Martínez's men came from behind to defeat Croatia thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo's historic penalty and a stoppage-time winner from substitute Gonçalo Ramos. However, the biggest talking point came deep into added time when Croatia thought they had forced extra time, only for Joško Gvardiol's equalizer to be ruled out for offside following a lengthy VAR review.
Portugal controlled much of the opening 45 minutes, enjoying the majority of possession and creating the better opportunities.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Pedro Neto all tested Croatia's defense, while goalkeeper Dominik Livaković produced several important saves to keep the score level. Ronaldo also had the ball in the net during the first half, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Despite Portugal's attacking pressure, Croatia remained disciplined and reached halftime with the scores locked at 0-0.
Croatia emerged from the break with renewed purpose and struck first in the 53rd minute.
Josip Stanišić delivered an excellent cross from the right flank that found Ivan Perišić at the far post. The veteran winger controlled the ball brilliantly before firing an angled finish past Diogo Costa to give Croatia a 1-0 lead.
The goal stunned Portugal and briefly shifted momentum in Croatia's favor as Zlatko Dalić's side looked to edge closer to another famous World Cup knockout victory.
Portugal's equalizer arrived in the 68th minute following a VAR intervention.
After reviewing a challenge inside the penalty area, referee Espen Eskås awarded Portugal a penalty for Nikola Vlašić's foul on Renato Veiga. Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up and calmly sent Livaković the wrong way to level the score at 1-1.
The strike was a landmark moment in Ronaldo's remarkable career.
At 41 years old, the Portuguese captain became the oldest player to score in a FIFA World Cup knockout match. It was also his first-ever goal in the knockout stages of a World Cup, ending a wait that had stretched across five previous editions of the tournament.
With extra time looming, Portugal found the decisive breakthrough in stoppage time.
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Rafael Leão delivered an inviting cross into the penalty area, where substitute Gonçalo Ramos rose above Croatia's defenders to power a header into the bottom corner and give Portugal a dramatic 2-1 lead.
The goal sparked wild celebrations among the Portuguese players and supporters, who believed they had secured passage into the last 16.
The drama, however, was far from over.
Deep into stoppage time, Croatia launched one final attack. The ball eventually fell to Joško Gvardiol, who finished from close range to seemingly make it 2-2 and send the match into extra time.
Croatia's celebrations were cut short when VAR intervened.
Following a lengthy review using semi-automated offside technology and the connected-ball sensor, officials determined that striker Igor Matanović had made a slight touch on the ball in the build-up. At that moment, Mario Pašalić was in an offside position before subsequently playing the ball to Gvardiol. Because Pašalić became involved in active play from an offside position, the goal was correctly disallowed under the Laws of the Game.
The decision sparked furious protests from Croatia's players and supporters, with debris thrown onto the pitch after the final whistle as emotions boiled over.
The match carried extra significance as it was widely expected to be the final World Cup appearance for two of football's greatest midfield generals, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modrić.
After the victory, Ronaldo paid tribute to his late Portugal teammate Diogo Jota by wearing his No. 21 shirt and pointing to the sky in an emotional post-match moment.
For Modrić and Croatia, the defeat marked a heartbreaking end to another memorable World Cup campaign, with the 40-year-old captain leaving the tournament after helping his country reach the final in 2018 and the semifinals in 2022.
Portugal's victory sends Roberto Martínez's side into the Round of 16, where they will face neighboring rivals Spain in one of the most anticipated fixtures of the knockout stage.
With Ronaldo making history, Ramos once again proving decisive from the bench, and Portugal showing resilience under immense pressure, the Seleção remain firmly in contention for World Cup glory. Croatia, meanwhile, depart the tournament with immense pride but also lingering frustration after a heartbreaking VAR decision denied them a dramatic late equalizer.