FIFA WC: Portugal beat Croatia 2-1, face Spain in last 16
Synopsis
Portugal needed a 90+4 header from Goncalo Ramos to edge past Croatia 2-1 in Toronto — a match that also saw Cristiano Ronaldo, at 41, become the oldest player ever to score in the FIFA World Cup knockout stages. VAR drama in the dying seconds only added to the spectacle.
Key Takeaways
Portugal defeated Croatia 2-1 at Toronto Stadium on 3 July to advance to the FIFA World Cup last 16.
Goncalo Ramos headed in the winner in the 90+4 minute from a Rafael Leao cross.
Ivan Perisic opened the scoring for Croatia in the 53rd minute ; Cristiano Ronaldo equalised with a penalty in the 68th minute .
At 41 , Ronaldo became the oldest player to score in the FIFA World Cup knockout stages, surpassing Pepe .
A late Croatia equaliser by Josko Gvardiol was ruled out by VAR for an offside by Mario Pasalic .
Portugal will face Spain in the round of 16.
Goncalo Ramos headed in a 90+4 minute winner as Portugal came from behind to defeat Croatia 2-1 in a pulsating FIFA World Cup round-of-64 tie at Toronto Stadium on Friday, 3 July. The result sets up a last-16 clash between Portugal and Spain.
How the Goals Fell
Ivan Perisic broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute, latching onto a deflected clearance from Ruben Dias at the far post following a Josip Stanisic cross to put Croatia ahead. Portugal struck back through a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty in the 68th minute, awarded after referee review confirmed a foul by Nikola Vlasic on Renato Veiga. Then, deep into stoppage time, Rafael Leao delivered a precise cross from the left that Ramos met with a clinical header to seal the comeback.
Ronaldo Makes History at 41
Ronaldo's converted spot-kick was his first goal in the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup. At 41 years old, he became the oldest player ever to score at the knockout stage of the tournament, surpassing fellow Portugal legend Pepe. The milestone adds another chapter to an already extraordinary international career.
Portugal Dominated, Croatia Held On — Until They Couldn't
Portugal controlled large portions of the first half, with Bruno Fernandes and Rafael Leao repeatedly testing goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic. Set pieces created repeated danger — Joao Cancelo tested from range after a corner in the 7th minute, Ronaldo struck the wall with a direct free kick in the 13th, and Renato Veiga headed over from a corner in the 16th. Croatia's most threatening first-half moment came in the 10th minute when Ante Budimir found space in the box but headed wide.
In the second half, Diogo Costa was crucial in keeping the scoreline level after Croatia's opener, denying both Mateo Kovacic and Ivan Matanovic. Leao also struck the crossbar in the 58th minute, and a Ronaldo effort was ruled out for offside shortly after.
Late VAR Drama Seals Portugal's Passage
Even after Ramos's winner, the drama continued. A last-gasp Croatia move saw Mario Pasalic square for Josko Gvardiol to tap home, but a VAR review ruled Pasalic offside, nullifying the goal and confirming Portugal's place in the last 16. This was a match that encapsulated the fine margins of knockout football — decided by stoppage-time heroics and technology in equal measure.
Point of View
However, is Ronaldo at 41 scoring in a World Cup knockout game: a statistical outlier that defies almost every precedent in elite football. The last-16 tie against Spain now looms as a genuine Iberian heavyweight bout, and Portugal's reliance on stoppage-time rescues will need to give way to more clinical finishing if they are to go deep in this tournament.
NationPress
3 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of Portugal vs Croatia at the FIFA World Cup?
Portugal defeated Croatia 2-1 at Toronto Stadium on 3 July, with Goncalo Ramos heading in a winner in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Ivan Perisic had given Croatia the lead before Cristiano Ronaldo equalised from the penalty spot.
Who scored for Portugal against Croatia?
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a penalty in the 68th minute to equalise, and Goncalo Ramos headed in the match-winner in the 90+4 minute from a Rafael Leao cross.
What record did Cristiano Ronaldo set in this match?
At 41 years old, Ronaldo became the oldest player ever to score in the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup, surpassing fellow Portugal legend Pepe.
Who will Portugal play in the last 16 of the FIFA World Cup?
Portugal will face Spain in the round of 16 after their 2-1 victory over Croatia at Toronto Stadium.
Was there VAR controversy in the Portugal vs Croatia match?
Yes. In the final moments, Josko Gvardiol appeared to tap home an equaliser for Croatia, but a VAR review ruled that Mario Pasalic, who squared the ball, was in an offside position. The goal was disallowed, confirming Portugal's 2-1 win.
