Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first World Cup knockout round goal! And it boosted Portugal to the round of 16.
The 41-year-old soccer icon netted the goal in the second half of Portugal’s 2-1 World Cup win over Croatia on Thursday, July 2 at BMO Field in Toronto to advance to the round of 16.
Gonçalo Ramos scored Portugal’s go-ahead goal in stoppage time after Ronaldo had already been substituted off, and it looked sure to be the winner. Then Croatia appeared to score an equalizer even deeper into added time – but a review found an offside infraction in the buildup.
With the loss, Croatia captain Luka Modrić might have played in his last World Cup game.
Portugal will face Spain in the round of 16 on Monday, July 6 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Cristiano Ronaldo honored his late teammate Diogo Jota after Portugal beat Croatia to advance to the round of 16. The soccer star pulled on a No. 21 red Portugal kit as he continued to shake the hands of his teammates and Croatia players. He also had a moment where he waved to Portugal’s supporters and then took a team photo holding up Jota’s jersey.
Jota died nearly a year ago with André Silva in a car accident. On the day of the World Cup match, Liverpool unveiled a sculpture paying tribute to both players.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modrić are among the few players who have 200 caps for their national teams. After Ronaldo’s Portugal beat Modrić’s Croatia, the two legends showed respect to each other. They embraced in a hug and exchanged a few words as Ronaldo rested his hand on Modrić’s shoulder.
Portugal outlasted Croatia to advance to the round of 16.
Croatia scored a last minute equalizer! The ball bounced around and Josko Gvardiol tipped it in the net. But officials called off the goal because Mario Pašalić was offsides.
Learn why offsides was called here.
Gonçalo Ramos scored for Portugal in the fourth minute of stoppage time in the second half. He received the rainbow pass from Rafael Leão and tossed the header to put Portugal up 2-0. He was swarmed by his teammates and Cristiano Ronaldo came off the bench to congratulate him.
There will be 10 more minutes of play in the second half of the round of 32 match between Portugal and Croatia. The game is tied 1-1.
Roberto Martínez decided that Cristiano Ronaldo contributed enough with his goal and pulled the soccer icon in the 81st minute of the match. Ronaldo was substituted by Rúben Neves. Once he sat on the bench, fans could see that Ronaldo had a bloody knee. There were no reports that he was injured.
Petar Sučić sprinted down the pitch and struck the ball into the goal. He started to celebrate by putting the ball under his shirt as if he was pregnant, but he was called offsides and the goal was disallowed.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first goal in a World Cup knockout match! He did so with a laser of a penalty kick in the 68th minute. He stepped up to the ball, juked the goalkeeper out, and struck.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner ran around the corner of the pitch with his arms out and leaped in celebration. He was met with a huddle of teammates.
The goal, which came in Ronaldo’s ninth World Cup game, served as the equalizer of the match. Portugal was given the penalty after a VAR review determined that Nikola Vlašić pulled Renato Veiga down in the box.
Cristiano Ronaldo almost scored his first ever goal in a World Cup knockout round! He took a long pass, tapped the ball, ran a few steps and struck the ball into the goal. But he was flagged for offsides the the goal was called off. VAR review showed that the soccer icon was indeed, offsides by his shoulder.
Luka Modrić was booked for a penalty.
Croatia nearly had two goals on three minutes! But after Nikola Vlašić slid in for the goal, he was called offsides.
Croatia is on the board! Ivan Perišić netted the first goal of the game in the 53rd minute. Josip Stanišić kicked the ball toward the net and Igor Matanović missed a header. Perišić took the touch on the left side of the net and struck the ball in.
The goal put Croatia up 1-0.
The first major action of the second half goes to Croatia! Igor Matanović was dribbling and Mateo Kovačić picked it up. He dribbled quickly and struck the ball JUST to the left of the net.
Portugal and Croatia are back on the pitch to compete for a spot in the round of 16.
Portugal and Croatia enter the halftime break scoreless.
There will be four minutes added to the first half of the match between Croatia and Portugal.
Boos broke out at BMO Field, seemingly by Croatia fans. It appeared they were booing Ronaldo and/or the referee.
Cristiano Ronaldo saw action in front of the net yet again. Francisco Conceição kicked the ball toward the goal and he ran toward it to hopefully knock it in, but he got tangled up with a Croatia defender and the ball bounced away. Ronaldo sat on his knees and shook his head after the play.
Croatia hasn’t had possession for much of the match so far. Nikola Vlasic attempted to make a play for his country with a fast break, but was called offsides.
Neither Portugal nor Croatia have scored at the hydration break midway through the first half. Portugal has threatened several times, but have yet to net anything.
Rúben Dias shoved Ante Budimir when they both went up for the ball. The Portugal player was given a yellow card for the foul.
Portugal was given a corner kick. Nuno Mendes kicked the ball into play and Renato Veiga attempted the header to knock the ball in for the first goal of the game, but it flew over the net.
Portugal was given a free kick. Cristian Ronaldo lined up and kicked the ball directly into a group of Croatian players.
Pedro Neto kicked the ball up toward Cristiano Ronaldo, who attempted a header. The ball bounced just left of the net.
Ronaldo has never scored a goal in a World Cup knockout match.
Portugal is threatening early! Bruno Fernandes had a strike toward the goal that goalkeeper Dominik Livaković batted away. Fernandes caught the rebound and kicked another goal attempt, but the ball hit a group of players and bounced away.
Portugal and Croatia have kicked off action at BMO Field in Toronto for their World Cup round of 32 match.
Where to watch Portugal vs Croatia
Watch every World Cup game with Fubo
What time is Portugal vs Croatia game?
The matchup kicks off at 7:00 PM ET.
The round of 32 match is being held at BMO Field in Toronto.
Seth Vertelney: Portugal 1-2 Croatia
After watching the group stage, it’s hard to avoid the conclusion that Cristiano Ronaldo is an anchor dragging this Portugal team down. A battle-tested Croatia team that always steps up its game in the World Cup knockouts is not an ideal opponent right now.
Jon Arnold: Portugal 1-1 Croatia (Portugal wins on PKs)
Luka Modrić will be the legend on the wrong side of 40 saying goodbye to the World Cup after this one, but only barely after he and his veteran teammates push Portugal to the limit.
Jesse Yomtov: Portugal 1-1 Croatia (Croatia wins on PKs)
Croatia will dig deep gets its result, likely ending Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup career.
Victoria Hernandez: Portugal 0 – 2 Croatia
Portugal has not done anything to impress so far. Croatia is playing hungry and much more motivated to honor their own legend.
Portugal lineup today
Diogo Costa, Rúben Dias, Renato Veiga, João Cancelo, Nuno Mendes, Bruno Fernandes, João Neves, Vitinha, Cristiano Ronaldo (C), Rafael Leão, Pedro Neto
Full rosters for 2026 World Cup teams
Croatia lineup today
Dominik Livaković, Josip Stanišić, Marin Pongračić, Josip Šutalo, Mateo Kovačić, Luka Modrić (C), Nikola Vlašić, Martin Baturina, Petar Sučić, Ante Budimir, Ivan Perišić
Croatia is wearing their away kits from Nike that feature the country’s signature checkerboard pattern over a bright blue base.
Portugal is wearing their away kits from Puma that feature a white base and a light blue wave pattern in a triangle design at the top.
After cutting his chops with European clubs Everton and Swansea, people first started remembering the name Roberto Martínez when he was the manager for Belgium. The Red Devils made an incredible run in the 2018 tournament, finishing third with the team’s all-time leading scorer, Romelu Lukaku. The Spaniard joined Portugal in 2023 and was tasked with helping Cristiano Ronaldo win some more trophies.
Zlatko Dalić has made Croatia a venerable soccer powerhouse. He signed with the team in 2017 and instantly made a splash, qualifying for the 2018 World Cup and taking Croatia all the way to the final, where they lost to France. He hasn’t missed a tournament since.
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo plays his club soccer for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
The 41-year-old previously spent time with Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus.
Portugal has never won the World Cup and the team’s best finish was third place in 1966.
Cristiano Ronaldo plays for Portugal and is the only player in history to score at six different World Cups.
Croatia midfielder Luka Modric is 40 years old, celebrating his 41st birthday in September.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored two goals in the 2026 group stage, both coming in a win against Uzbekistan.
The 41-year-old has 10 career World Cup goals entering the knockout stage.
Explore the updated bracket with USA TODAY Sports here.
