Portugal defeated Croatia 2-1 in an intense round of 32 duel marked by two decisive VAR interventions. Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first goal in a World Cup knockout phase, Rafael Leão led the Portuguese reaction and Luka Modrić and Ivan Perišić said goodbye to the World Cup.
Portugal needed character, patience and two VAR decisions to stay alive in the 2026 World Cup. In a match of changing emotions played at the Toronto Stadium, the team led by Roberto Martínez defeated Croatia 2-1 and advanced to the round of 16, where they will face Spain.
Croatia struck first. Ivan Perišić, one of the leaders of the most successful generation of Croatian football, put his team ahead with a goal that silenced the Portuguese fans and fueled the hope of saying goodbye to Luka Modrić, captain and symbol of the Balkan team, with a qualification.
Portugal reacted with the help of Rafael Leão. The winger became the most unbalanced player in the match, constantly attacking down the left wing and forcing the Croatian defense to retreat. His insistence ended up tilting the match in favor of the Portuguese.
The reward came in the 68th minute. After a VAR review, the referee signaled a penalty in favor of Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo took responsibility. The captain did not fail and scored 1-1, a goal with a special meaning: it was the first of his career in a direct elimination phase of the World Cup, a pending score that he had been carrying since his World Cup debut in 2006.
Cristiano’s night could have been even more memorable. Minutes before, he received inside the area, controlled with class and defined with precision to score a great goal. However, a VAR review confirmed a millimeter offside and the goal was disallowed, unleashing the frustration of the Portuguese striker.
Ronaldo left the field of play in the 81st minute to applause, after a decisive performance that once again demonstrated his influence in moments of maximum pressure.
When the match seemed headed for a heart-stopping finish, Portugal found the qualifying goal. However, the drama did not end there. In the final minutes, Croatia sent the ball into the net again and celebrated a tie that forced extra time, but the VAR intervened for the second time to invalidate the action due to offside, confirming the Portuguese victory.
The final whistle also marked the possible last World Cup match for two Croatian legends. At 40 years old, Luka Modrić completed another leadership performance in midfield, while Ivan Perišić, scorer of his team’s only goal, once again demonstrated his validity in a farewell full of emotion.
Portugal, driven by the leadership of Cristiano Ronaldo and the imbalance of Rafael Leão, is now preparing for one of the most attractive matches of the round of 16, where it will face Spain in a new edition of the Iberian classic.