Ronaldo inspires Portugal past Croatia into World Cup last 16 with late winner

TORONTO: Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first World Cup knockout-stage goal and substitute Goncalo Ramos scored in stoppage time as Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 on Thursday to reach the last 16, where they will face Spain.

Croatia thought they had taken the match to extra time in the 103rd minute when Josko Gvardiol found the net. However, a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review showed the ball had touched Igor Matanovic on its way through, leaving Gvardiol in an offside position. The goal was disallowed, confirming Portugal’s place in the next round.

The decision prompted protests from Croatia supporters, with some throwing debris onto the pitch after the final whistle.

Ronaldo makes history amid second-half frenzy

Portugal controlled possession in the first half but failed to make the breakthrough. Croatia took the lead in the 53rd minute when Ivan Perisic controlled a pass from Josip Stanisic before finishing at the far post.

Portugal equalised in the 68th minute after Nikola Vlasic fouled Renato Veiga inside the penalty area. Ronaldo converted the resulting spot-kick, scoring his first goal in a World Cup knockout match and becoming the oldest player to score in the knockout stage of the tournament.

Ronaldo was substituted in the 81st minute, but Portugal secured victory in stoppage time when Goncalo Ramos headed home the winner.

“For me, especially, I love those types of moments,” Ramos said after the match. “I want to be in the big moment.”

A poignant tribute to Diogo Jota

The victory carried immense emotional weight for the Portuguese squad, playing a day before the one-year anniversary of the tragic death of forward Diogo Jota in a car crash.

An image of Jota was displayed on the stadium screens ahead of kick-off, and fans paid tribute with a resounding standing ovation in the 21st minute.

Following the final whistle, a visibly emotional Ronaldo wore Jota’s number 21 shirt while fighting back tears. “We won for us, Diogo and Portugal,” Ronaldo later posted on Instagram.

The high-stakes clash also marked a poignant battle between two veteran icons of the game. While Ronaldo’s World Cup dreams remain alive, Croatia’s 38-year-old maestro Luka Modric was left to contemplate his international future. The former Real Madrid teammates shared a warm embrace on the pitch after the final whistle.

Portugal now travel to Dallas to face Iberian rivals Spain on Monday, with a coveted quarter-final spot against either Belgium or the United States on the line.