Portugal secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Croatia to reach the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 after Gonçalo Ramos scored a stoppage-time winner in a thrilling knockout encounter.
Croatia took the lead in the 53rd minute when Ivan Perišić fired a low shot beyond the goalkeeper to break the deadlock after a closely contested first half.
Portugal equalised in the 68th minute through captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who converted a penalty after Nikola Vlašić fouled Renato Veiga inside the penalty area. The goal marked Ronaldo’s 129th in international football.
Portugal manager Roberto Martínez replaced Ronaldo in the 81st minute, and the decision proved decisive. Substitute Gonçalo Ramos headed home Rafael Leão’s cross in the fourth minute of stoppage time to put Portugal ahead.
Croatia appeared to have forced extra time when Rúben Neves accidentally turned the ball into his own net in the 13th minute of added time. However, the referee disallowed the goal after a VAR review confirmed an offside infringement earlier in the move.
Portugal controlled possession for much of the match but struggled to create clear scoring opportunities until the closing stages.
The victory sends Portugal into the Round of 16, where it will face Spain in one of the standout fixtures of the tournament’s knockout phase.
