Ronaldo scores first knockout World Cup goal as Portugal edge Croatia

Cristiano Ronaldo scored Portugal’s equaliser from the penalty spot in Toronto on Thursday, July 2, and a late VAR intervention ruled out Josko Gvardiol’s apparent equaliser in Portugal’s 2-1 win over Croatia.

The decisive call came after Premier League referee Jarred Gillet recommended that on-field official Espen Eskaas take another look. Video showed Igor Matanovic brushing Ivan Perisic’s cross before Mario Pasalic’s pass to Gvardiol, leaving Pasalic offside and the goal invalid. Croatia were left stunned, while Portugal moved on to face Spain in the last 16 in Dallas on Monday, July 6.

Ronaldo had already delivered Portugal’s equaliser from the penalty spot, and it was the first goal of his World Cup career in the knockout stages. Roberto Martinez took him off in the 81st minute, but Portugal found another late answer when Goncalo Ramos headed in Rafael Leao’s cross in the 94th minute to settle the tie. Ivan Perisic had put Croatia ahead in the 53rd minute, and for long stretches Croatia looked the sharper side, outshooting Portugal 9-3 by halftime while holding 31 per cent of the possession against them.

The 40-year-old played all four of Croatia’s matches at the 2026 tournament and has now appeared at five World Cups. Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić said the defeat was “probably” Modric’s final World Cup match, though he added that only God knows what will happen in the next four years. Modric’s international resume already includes leading Croatia to second place in 2018 and third in 2022, the same year he won the Ballon d’Or.

Ronaldo and Modric, former Real Madrid teammates, shared a moment after the match. Ronaldo, who wore a tribute shirt for former Portugal player Diogo Jota, said: “I played with Luka so many years... he’s a legend of football.”