Ronaldo, Ramos Sink Croatia To Send Portugal Into World Cup Last 16

A stoppage time header from substitute Goncalo Ramos and a hard fought equaliser from Cristiano Ronaldo carried Portugal to a dramatic 2-1 win over Croatia at Toronto Stadium on Thursday, July 2, 2026, booking a last 16 clash with reigning European champions Spain and prolonging the veteran captain’s storied World Cup journey.

Ramos, introduced after Croatia struck first, rose to glance home Rafael Leao’s cross in the 94th minute, sparking wild celebrations on the Portuguese bench in one of the tournament’s most nerve wracking finishes. The drama did not end there. Croatia thought they had forced extra time when Josko Gvardiol prodded the ball in during added time, only for the effort to be ruled out after a lengthy Video Assistant Referee review found Mario Pasalic offside in the build up.

Ivan Perisic had given Croatia the lead in the 53rd minute with a low, driven finish across goal. Portugal drew level in the 68th minute when Ronaldo, at 41, converted from the penalty spot after Nikola Vlasic fouled Renato Veiga inside the box. The goal made Ronaldo the oldest player to score in a World Cup knockout match, and marked his first goal in the knockout rounds across a career spanning six tournaments. Coach Roberto Martinez withdrew him in the 81st minute, an unusual decision that ultimately paved the way for Ramos to become the match winner.

After the final whistle, an emotional Ronaldo pulled on a Portugal shirt bearing the number 21 in tribute to the late Diogo Jota, the Liverpool forward who died in a car crash on July 3, 2025, almost a year to the day of the victory. “We knew it before the game. It was a so special moment. We speak today, our group, about that, the coincidence of life, it’s unbelievable,” Ronaldo said afterwards, adding that the manner of the win “means a lot to us.”

The result also carried a note of finality for Croatia, whose 40 year old talisman Luka Modric, twice a World Cup semi finalist with the Vatreni, is widely expected to have played his last match on football’s biggest stage. Portugal, by contrast, march on to face Spain in Dallas on Monday.

Spain booked their place with a commanding 3-0 defeat of Austria in Los Angeles, a performance that underlined their standing among the favourites. Mikel Oyarzabal struck twice while Pedro Porro added a header before a 70,492 crowd at SoFi Stadium. “We played a magnificent match,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said, cautioning that “every match from now on will be more complicated.” La Roja have gathered momentum since a stuttering goalless opener against Cape Verde.

The tie renews one of European football’s fiercest rivalries at a decisive stage of the first 48 team World Cup, co hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. It also highlights the growing struggles of African representation. Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo and Senegal have all exited, leaving Morocco as the continent’s lone survivor heading into the knockout rounds, with Algeria still chasing a first ever World Cup knockout victory in five attempts.

For Portugal, the reward for survival is another shot at glory, and for Ronaldo, at least one more appearance on the World Cup stage he has graced for the better part of two decades.