Fanatics · 4th of July Sale · ends July 6UP TO 60% OFF soccer jerseysUS store · use promo code BRAVE at checkoutShop the sale →Portugal survived an ugly second half to edge Croatia 2-1 in the 2026 World Cup Round of 32 at BMO Field, advancing on the back of a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty and a 90th-minute goal from substitute Goncalo Ramos. Croatia had led through Ivan Perisic’s 53rd-minute strike, and the match saw three VAR disallowances before Ramos settled it deep in stoppage time. Roberto Martinez’s side did enough, even if the performance left room for concern.
Key Moments
- 17′, Ruben Dias picked up a yellow card for elbowing, an early disciplinary concern for Portugal’s backline.
- 53′, Croatia took the lead when Ivan Perisic scored with a normal finish, punishing Portugal on the counter despite their dominant possession.
- 61′, Ronaldo thought he had leveled but VAR ruled the finish out for offside, with Portugal’s frustration mounting.
- 63′, Martinez made a quadruple substitution, bringing on Bruno Fernandes, Pedro Neto, Joao Cancelo, and Vitinha simultaneously to reshape his side.
- 68′, Ronaldo converted from the penalty spot to equalize at 1-1, restoring parity shortly after the mass substitution.
- 81′, Croatia had a goal disallowed through VAR for offside, denying Petar Sucic what would have been the winning goal.
- 90′, Goncalo Ramos tucked away a normal goal in stoppage time to give Portugal a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish, securing the win.
Tactical Breakdown
Portugal dominated the ball throughout, finishing with 61% possession, 584 passes at 91% accuracy, and an xG of 2.18 against Croatia’s 1.34. With 15 total shots and nine corner kicks, they generated volume, but only three attempts were on target before Ronaldo’s penalty. The 4-2-3-1 setup kept Croatia penned back for long stretches, yet Zlatko Dalic’s side made their limited possession count, recording six shots on goal despite touching the ball for barely a third of the match.
The real turning point came at the hour mark. Ronaldo’s disallowed goal at 61 minutes appeared to unsettle Portugal, and Martinez responded immediately by introducing four fresh players at once. The overhaul shifted the game’s rhythm entirely. Fernandes and Neto added directness in transition, and Croatia’s ability to hold their shape deteriorated after the changes. Within five minutes of the substitutions, Portugal had drawn level from the spot.
What cost Croatia was their reliance on individual moments rather than sustained pressure. Perisic’s goal was genuine quality, but Dalic’s side committed 12 fouls, saw Luka Modric booked for tripping, and had three goals disallowed across the second half, including from Sucic and Josip Gvardiol. Four offsides in total reflected a team playing on the edge of its defensive line without the ball retention to back it up.
Player Ratings
World Cup knockout bracket
Knockout results, aggregate scores across legs; winners in bold, penalty shootouts noted.
Head to Head
Verdict
Portugal advance to the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, though this was far from a polished display. Roberto Martinez will need cleaner finishing and greater defensive composure as the tournament intensifies. Croatia exit a World Cup at the knockout stage again, Dalic’s side undone by a combination of VAR calls and a lack of cutting edge when it mattered.