Gonçalo Ramos heads home in stoppage time as Portugal beat Croatia 2-1, with Ronaldo converting a penalty to set up a Round of 16 clash with Spain
Ramos heads Portugal past Croatia in stoppage time as Modrić bows out
Article by:
PUBLISHED:
Gonçalo Ramos headed home from Rafael Leão’s cross in the fourth minute of stoppage time to send Portugal through to the World Cup Round of 16 with a 2-1 win over Croatia at Toronto Stadium, in what may have been the final World Cup appearance for both Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modrić.
The first half produced little despite Portugal’s domination. Croatia’s best chance fell to Ante Budimir early on, but Diogo Costa was equal to it. Portugal had chance after chance through Bruno Fernandes, João Cancelo and Ronaldo but could not convert, with Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livaković making several sharp stops.
Croatia took the lead eight minutes into the second half. Nikola Vlasic played in Josip Stanisic, whose cross found Ivan Perisic arriving late at the back post to bury a left-footed finish past Costa.
Portugal were level in the 68th minute after a VAR review confirmed a foul by Nikola Vlašić on Renato Veiga. Ronaldo stepped up, paused his run to send Livaković the wrong way, and converted, the crowd erupting in a city with one of the world’s largest Portuguese diasporas.
[See more: Spain ease past Austria 3-0 as Oyarzabal strikes twice at the World Cup]
Kovačić twice went close to restoring Croatia’s lead, firing one effort off the post before Costa made a brilliant save. Croatia then thought they had equalised deep into stoppage time when Joško Gvardiol headed in, but VAR ruled the goal out for offside.
Moments earlier, Leão had surged down the left and delivered a pinpoint cross for substitute Ramos to head firmly into the net, as Portugal’s winner came in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
Ronaldo was substituted before the winner, replaced by Rúben Neves. A fan bowed to him as he left the pitch. Whether this was truly his farewell to the World Cup remains to be seen, but Modrić — who shared four Champions League titles with Ronaldo at Real Madrid — is almost certainly done at this level.
Portugal face Spain in the Round of 16 at Dallas Stadium.
UPDATED: 03 Jul 2026, 2:33 pm
