Ronaldo Makes History, Portugal Advances | Portugal vs. Croatia Match Result: 2-1

Portugal defeated Croatia 2-1 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and advanced to the Round of 16. Portugal will face Spain in this round. Despite the 40-degree heat and high humidity in Toronto, the match kicked off at a fast pace, fueled by the atmosphere created by the 43,000 soccer fans who packed the stands. With Rafael Leao and Bruno Fernandes leading the charge down the left flank toward the opponent’s goal, Portugal was the side that came closest to scoring before the water break.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE MATCH

In the 4th minute, Portugal came very close to scoring. Leao cut inside from the left flank to the byline and sent the ball into the box, where Fernandes met it at the near post. Goalkeeper Livakovic parried the shot, but Fernandes fired it back toward the goal—only for the defense to clear the danger.

In the 16th minute, on a corner kick taken by Mendes from the right, Veiga rose well in the penalty area and headed the ball just over the crossbar.

In the 45+1st minute, following a cross into the penalty area from the right by Neto, Leao tried to finish the ball as it rebounded off the defense, but it sailed over the crossbar.

The first half, in which Croatia absorbed the pressure and barely crossed the halfway line, ended in a scoreless draw.

CROATIANS START THE SECOND HALF WITH A GOAL

Croatia started the second half quickly and thrilled their fans in the 48th minute with a shot that hit the side netting. After receiving a pass from Matanovic, who had just entered the game, Kovacic found space and fired a shot across the goal. The ball deflected off goalkeeper Costa and hit the side netting.

Croatia took a 1-0 lead in the 53rd minute. Following a cross into the penalty area from the right by Stanisic, Perisic controlled the ball as it deflected off a defender and fired a low shot that slipped through goalkeeper Costa’s legs and into the net.

In the 58th minute, during a Portuguese attack, Leao fired a powerful shot from a position facing the goal, but the ball hit the crossbar and bounced back.

Portugal was awarded a penalty in the 66th minute following a VAR review. After reviewing the play in which Veiga went down in the penalty area following a challenge by Vlasic, referee Espen Eskas pointed to the penalty spot.

In the 67th minute, Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up to take the penalty and beat goalkeeper Livakovic, who had dived to his right, to equalize the score.

In the 75th minute, Croatia hit the post. Kovacic’s powerful shot from the edge of the penalty area struck the near post. In the ensuing play, Kovacic got another shot off, but goalkeeper Costa tipped the ball over the crossbar for a corner at the last moment.

In the 89th minute, during a Croatian attack down the right flank, Sucic cut inside to his left and crossed the ball into the penalty area, where Pasalic met it with a header. The ball went just wide of the post.

GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE FINAL MINUTES

In the 90+4th minute, during a Portuguese attack down the left flank, Leao crossed the ball into the penalty area, where Ramos rose superbly between two defenders and headed the ball into the net: 2-1.

GOAL DISALLOWED

In the 90+13th minute, Perisic’s cross from the left flank struck Pasalic and fell in front of Gvardiol. The player’s close-range shot found the back of the net, but referee Espen Eskas disallowed the goal following a VAR review, ruling that Pasalic was offside.

Portugal, which won the match 2-1 and advanced to the Round of 16, will face Spain in Dallas on Monday, July 6, at 10:00 p.m. local time.

RONALDO MAKES HISTORY

Ronaldo, who became the oldest player to appear in World Cup knockout rounds at 41 years and 147 days, also scored his first-ever knockout-round goal against Croatia. Ronaldo also made history as the oldest player to score a goal in the tournament’s knockout rounds.

Venue: Toronto

Referees: Espen Eskas, Jan Erik Engan, Isaak Bashevkin (Norway)

Portugal: Costa, Cancelo (Ramos, 63'), Dias, Veiga, Mendes, Bruno Fernandes (Semedo, 63'), Joao Neves, Vitinha (62' Bernardo Silva), Leao, Neto (63' Conçeicao), Ronaldo (81' Ruben Neves)

Croatia: Livakovic, Stanisic, Pongracic, Sutalo, Kovacic (90+6' Kramaric), Modrić, Vlašić (90+2' Gvardiol), Baturina (68' Pašalić), Sučić, Perišić, Budimir (46' Matanović)

Goals: 53' Perisic (Croatia), 68' Ronaldo (penalty), 90+4' Ramos (Portugal)

Yellow cards: 17' Dias (Portugal), 59' Modric, 90+8' Perisic (Croatia)