Portugal 2-1 Croatia: Ronaldo and Gonçalo Ramos set up Spain showdown in Last 16

A clash of legends with a heartbreaking finish. Portugal came back to beat Croacia 2-1 in Toronto and booked their spot against España in the last 16. A penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo and a stoppage-time header from Gonçalo Ramos knocked out Croacia, with Modrić, now 40, saying goodbye to the World Cup stage.

The match. Croacia, well-organised with Modrić controlling the tempo, struck first: Ivan Perišić fired home the 0-1 with a left-footed strike. Portugal piled on the pressure and got their reward from the spot: after VAR review, Ronaldo made no mistake and levelled at 1-1, his first goal in a World Cup knockout tie.

Absolute madness at the end. When everything pointed to extra time, up popped Gonçalo Ramos: in the 90+3 he headed home a cross from Rafael Leao for 2-1. And there was more drama to come: the VAR ruled out a Gvardiol goal for the tightest of offsides that would've levelled it. Ronaldo, subbed off before the final whistle, trudged away visibly fuming despite the ticket to the next round.

What's next. Portugal face España on 6 July in Dallas, in a cracker between old rivals (payback from the 2025 Nations League final). For Croacia, it's curtains on the tournament and, likely, Luka Modrić's final World Cup dance—runner-up in 2018, bronze in 2022.

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