Portugal 2-1 Croatia - 2026 World Cup Match Report and Player Ratings

Ronaldo Scores First Knockout Goal as Modric Goes Home

An unbelievable second half in Toronto saw a magnificent 2-1 victory for Portugal over Croatia to set up a date with Spain on Monday, 6 July in the last 16.

An opener from Ivan Perisic was cancelled out by Cristiano Ronaldo's first ever World Cup knockout goal which came from the spot. Then Goncalo Ramos headed home in second half injury time to give the Selecao an incredible winner.

Late drama from VAR surrounding the smallest of touches off Igor Matanovic's head was enough to justify VAR to disallow it for offside.

AND HE SCORES! ⚽️

Cristiano Ronaldo scores his first ever World Cup knockout goal with a penalty against Croatia! 👏 pic.twitter.com/SAB9GLeIDf

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 3, 2026

Portugal 2-1 Croatia: Round of 32 As it Happened

A tricky Group K campaign left Portugal with it all to do coming into the knockout stage; if Ronaldo wanted to continue playing international football, he had to win this utter monstrosity of a Round of 32 clash.

Both sides looked to start brightly, and the game seemed rather open early on in what was an exceedingly hot evening in Toronto prior to kick-off. Selecao had the first strong opportunity, coming down the left; an excellently weighted ball from Nuno Mendes was met by Rafael Leao deep on the left wing - his pull back to Bruno Fernandes was twice denied by an overly stubborn Croat defence.

Portugal then continued their scarily good start. This time it was Pedro Neto on the right, with his neat footwork setting himself for a delicious ball into the box, which went inches wide of Dominik Livakovic's incoming punch and Ronaldo's head - no doubt that this is exactly how Roberto Martinez wanted them to start.

More opportunites arose as the game approached the hydration break, with Renato Veiga heading far too high for his liking to waste an excellent chance from a corner where he definitely shoudl have challenged the goal.

In the minutes following, although Portugal largely continued their strong start, Croatia slowly began to settle, finding some openings of their own in the final third. But it was Portugal who next threatened the opener. Fernandes again worked it well into the box down the left side, but his cross-shot was one saved then deflected out for a corner.

Selecao had one last chance before the break. It was Neto again who worked down the right flank impressively, chopping in on to his left foot to swing in a cross towards Fernandes. Josip Stanisic got up well to get his head on it, but it was only good enough to reach Leao running on to pluck the ball out the air, but his volley was only ever rising.

Half-Time Score: Portugal 0-0 Croatia

Both sides flew out the gates in the second half, each trading what could have been fateful blows on the break, but neither could find the target. Croatia definitely came closest though, Mateo Kovacic bursting through Portugal's last line of defence before forcing a great reflex save out of Diogo Costa.

Shortly after it was Croatia who took the lead, in what was a well deserved lead after the restart. All the talk pre-game was about two World Cup veterans in Ronaldo and Luka Modric, but it was another veteran Perisic who held himself back and Stanisic's cross found him for the 37-year-old to slam home.

53' - Ivan Perisic puts Croatia 1-0 up
61' - Cristiano Ronaldo equalises but it's called offside by a fraction 🤏 pic.twitter.com/SMVFmJrarS

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 3, 2026

With Ronaldo and co heading home as it stood, they needed a quick response, and Leao so almost replied with one. He received the ball on the edge of the box before releasing what was an outrageous effort on goal that cannoned off the crossbar.

Ronaldo did soon find his first knockout goal, but he began his run in behind by just a shoulder too far forward and the flag was raised. Martinez looked to his bench, desparate to search for answers, and he made the bold move of taking out Fernandes, Neto and Vitinha from the piece, with Goncalo Ramos joining Ronaldo up top.

Within seconds of the substitutions, Nikola Vlasic was thought to bring down Veiga from a corner, and after a lengthy VAR check, Portugal had their chance to level. Ronaldo was the one to step up to draw his side level just two minutes after thinking he was one of the four names making way. He didn't, and he scored his first World Cup knockout goal to keep their dream alive.

Kovacic was soon in the action once again. His dribbling continued to be incredibly slick, making his way through Portugal defenders with ease. His first strike cannoned off the post after ricocheting off Costa's fingertips; his next chance was also on target, but once again tipped over by the 'keeper.

With 10 minutes to go, Petar Sucic was played in beautifully by Kovacic before clamly slotting by Costa, but this time it was a Croatia goal ruled out for offside as his celebrations were cut short. Just after these events, Ronaldo made way for Ruben Neves, coming off for what could be the final time ever in a Portugal shirt at a World Cup.

Croatia had a chance to steal it a couple minutes from time, but Sucic's ball into the box which found Mario Pasilic somehow didn't find the back of the net off his head, as it travelled inches wide of the right post.

After 10 minutes were added on after the 90, it seemed for the first couple minutes as though both sides had one eye on extra-time. However, an absolutely gorgeous delivery into the box out of nowehere from Rafael Leao met the oncoming head of Goncalo Ramos, who directed it perfectly down Livakovic's left side and in for a late, late winner.

The story wasn't over yet though, a last ditch effort saw the ball enter the box, and after some ping-pong, the final touch came off Josko Gvardiol for a 103rd minute equaliser - BUT IT WAS RULED OUT FOR OFFSIDE.

The smallest of touches off Matanovic's head was enough for Gillett and on-field referee Espen Eskas to rule Pasalic's following touch as offside.

A cruel way for Modric's World Cup journey to end, but what a story it was.

Full-Time Score: Portugal 2-1 Croatia

🚨 OFFICIAL LINEUPS FOR 🇵🇹 PORTUGAL VS CROATIA 🇭🇷

Cristiano Ronaldo starts once again, while Bernardo Silva is left on the bench 💥

For Croatia, Dalic sticks with Budimir up front alongside Baturina and Vlašić 🔥

🇿🇦 Get the World Cup Pass on SportyTV App with one off payment… pic.twitter.com/y2nWtxG2v1

— SportyTV (@SportyTV) July 2, 2026

Portugal Player Ratings

• Diogo Costa - 6
• Nuno Mendes - 6
• Renato Veiga - 6
• Ruben Dias - 6
• Joao Cancelo - 7
• Vitinha - 7
• Joao Neves - 6
• Rafael Leao - 6
• Bruno Fernandes - 6
• Pedro Neto - 6
• Cristiano Ronaldo - 7

Substitutes:

• Nelson Semedo (62') - 6
• Bernardo Silva (62') - 6
• Francisco Conceicao (62') - 6
• Goncalo Ramos (62') - 8
• Ruben Neves (82') - 6

Croatia Player Ratings

• Dominik Livakovic - 5
• Ivan Perisic - 7
• Marin Pongracic - 6
• Josip Sutalo - 7
• Josip Stanisic - 7
• Mateo Kovacic - 7
• Luka Modric - 6
• Martin Baturina - 6
• Petar Sucic - 6
• Nikola Vlasic - 6
• Ante Budimir - 6

Substitutes:

• Igor Matanovic (HT) - 6
• Mario Pasalic (68') - 6
• Josko Gvardiol (90') - N/A
• Andrej Kramaric (90') - N/A

Player of the Match - Goncalo Ramos

Bailed out the great Cristiano Ronaldo and his men at the death.

A 95th minute winner which let's be honest Croatia probably deserved, but Portugal did also do enough throughout the game to deserve at least two goals, and the timing of this moment couldn't have been timed any better.