Match Overview
The FIFA World Cup 2026 round of 32 match between Portugal and Croatia saw a dramatic second half, with both teams having goals disallowed and critical saves made. The game, held at Toronto Stadium in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, featured moments of intense action following a relatively quiet opening period.
The first goal of the match came in the 54th minute when Ivan Perisic scored for Croatia. Josip Stanisic delivered a cross from the by-line, which Ruben Dias partially cleared, but Perisic finished past Diogo Costa. Shortly after, Igor Matanovic had a goal ruled out for Croatia due to an offside call against Nikola Vlasic, who provided the assist.
Portugal responded with pressure, and Rafael Leao hit the crossbar in the 58th minute. Cristiano Ronaldo then had a goal disallowed for offside in the 61st minute. The referee was sent to the monitor for a VAR check, which ultimately led to a penalty being awarded to Portugal in the 66th minute after Nikola Vlasic was judged to have fouled Renato Veiga. Ronaldo converted the penalty in the 67th minute, levelling the score at 1-1.
Key Moments and Substitutions
Following the equaliser, Portugal made four substitutions, bringing on Francisco Conceicao, Bernardo Silva, Goncalo Ramos, and Nelson Semedo, while Ronaldo remained on the pitch. A hydration break occurred in the 70th minute, after which play resumed with twenty minutes plus added time to determine a winner.
Croatia continued to press, with Mateo Kovacic hitting the post in the 75th minute. Diogo Costa made a fingertip save to deflect the shot, and then punched away Kovacic’s follow-up attempt. Costa made another crucial save in the 78th minute, denying Igor Matanovic from a tight angle. Croatia had another goal ruled out in the 82nd minute when Petar Sucic was deemed offside after latching onto a through ball from Mateo Kovacic.
Cristiano Ronaldo was substituted off in the 82nd minute, replaced by Ruben Neves. This substitution led to discussions regarding its timing and potential implications for Ronaldo’s World Cup appearances. Mario Pasalic, who came on for Martin Baturina, missed a chance to score in the 89th minute, heading wide after a cross from Petar Sucic.
Closing Stages
As the match neared its conclusion, Portugal continued to seek opportunities. Nuno Mendes took a tumble in the box in the 90th minute, but the referee did not award a penalty. Ten minutes of added time were signalled. In the 90+3 minute, Goncalo Ramos scored for Portugal with a glancing header, putting them ahead. The goal came from a chipped ball by Rafael Leao, with Ramos outjumping Josko Gvardiol to find the back of the net.
The match concluded with Portugal in possession, awaiting the final whistle after a period of intense play and several disallowed goals and saves.
This fixture was notable as it could have marked the final World Cup match for either Cristiano Ronaldo or Luka Modric, both veteran players. Ronaldo, at 41, and Modric, at 40, were the first outfield players over 40 to face each other in a World Cup match. Portugal entered the match as runners-up in Group H with five points, while Croatia were runners-up in Group L with six points.
Historically, Portugal and Croatia have met 10 times, with Portugal winning seven, Croatia winning one, and two matches ending in draws. Their most recent encounter was a 1-1 draw in the Nations League in November 2024.
The match was scheduled to kick off at 7pm (23:00 GMT) on Thursday.
Read Also
Source: theguardian.com
You may also like
Joel Kavanagh is a Sports News Writer at News-GB. He started on a Midlands sports desk. He focuses on rugby union, golf and boxing and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Journalism from De Montfort University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Leicester, he plays amateur rugby and follows the fight calendar. “In sport news, the first ten minutes decide everything.”