Portugal Vs Croatia, FIFA World Cup 2026: Ramos' Late Heroics Send POR Into Round Of 16
Portugal Vs Croatia, FIFA World Cup 2026 Match Gallery: Portugal kept their FIFA World Cup 2026 dream alive with a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Croatia in a Round of 32 thriller at Toronto Stadium. Ivan Perisic gave the Vatreni the lead in the 53rd minute, but Cristiano Ronaldo responded from the penalty spot to level the contest before Roberto Martinez made the bold decision to replace his captain late in the game. That gamble paid off as Goncalo Ramos powered home Rafael Leao's cross in stoppage time to send A Selecao ahead. Croatia thought they had snatched a last-gasp equaliser through Josko Gvardiol, only for VAR to rule the goal out for offside after a lengthy review, triggering dramatic scenes inside the stadium. The victory sends Portugal into the Round of 16, where they will face Spain, while Croatia's campaign ends in heartbreak.
Portugal starting players warm-up prior to the World Cup round of 32 soccer match against Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
A Fan of Portugal waits for the beginning of the World Cup round of 32 soccer match against Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez arrives for the World Cup round of 32 soccer match against Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Portugal fans gather ahead of their FIFA 2026 World Cup round of 32 match against Croatia, in Toronto on Thursday, July 2, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Kotarski (23) warm sup during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (7) waves to the crowd before the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Portugal starting players pose for a team photo at the beginning of the World Cup round of 32 soccer match against Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Croatia starting eleven pose for a team photo before during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (7) shakes hands with Croatia's Luka Modric (10) before the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Portugal's Pedro Neto (18) battles with Croatia's Martin Baturina (16) during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Portugal's Ruben Dias (3) reacts to receiving a yellow card from Referee Espen Eskas, of Norway, as Portugal's Bruno Fernandes (8) looks on during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (7) reacts to a play during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Portugal's Rafael Leao (17) plays the ball against Croatia's Mateo Kovacic (8) during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Croatia's Josip Stanisic (2) heads the ball as Portugal's Rafael Leao (17) looks on during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (7) watches as Croatia's Nikola Vlasic (13) heads the ball during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (7) runs as Croatia's Luka Modric (10) reacts during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (7) reacts to a missed shot during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Croatia's Ivan Perisic (14) scores the first goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Sam Balkansky)
Croatia's Ivan Perisic (14) is congratulated by his teammates after scoring his side's first goal against Portugal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Croatia's Ivan Perisic (14) and Petar Sucic (17) celebrate after Perisic scored their first goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Portugal's Renato Veiga (13) is fouled to concede a penalty during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. | Photo: AP/Stephanie Scarbrough
Fans watching on a big screen in Lisbon, Portugal, react during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Portugal and Croatia, Friday, July 3, 2026. | Photo: AP/Armando Franca
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (7) scores on a penalty kick past Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic (1) during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. | Photo: Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring his side's first goal against Croatia during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (7) celebrates after scoring their first during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Sam Balkansky)
Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic (1) reacts after Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo scored a goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. | Photo: Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (7) reacts to a non goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Portugal's Goncalo Ramos (9) celebrates scoring a goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)
Portugal's Goncalo Ramos (9) is congratulated by Cristiano Ronaldo (7) after scoring a goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Croatia's Luka Modric reacts at the end of the World Cup round of 32 soccer match against Portugal in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Croatia's Luka Modric (10) and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (7) greet each other after the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Croatia's Luka Modric (10) consoles Croatia's Mateo Kovacic (8) after a loss during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (7), joined by teammates, holds the jersey of the late Diogo Jota, who died last year, after the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after the World Cup round of 32 soccer match against Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. | Photo: AP/Stephanie Scarbrough
Croatia's Ivan Perisic (14) pretends to drink a beer thrown on the pitch by fans after a no goal decision during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match against Portugal, in Toronto on Thursday, July 2, 2026. | Photo: Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP
Croatia's Igor Matanovic (20) reacts after the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. | Photo: Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP
Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa (1) celebrates a win with teammates during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. | Photo: AP/Mike Stewart
Fans watching on a big screen in Lisbon, Portugal, react after VAR disallowed a second goal by Croatia in the last minute of the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Portugal and Croatia, Friday, July 3, 2026. | Photo: AP/Armando Franca
Fans watching on a big screen in Lisbon, Portugal, turn on their phone lights at the 21st minute to celebrate the late Portugal player Diogo Jota during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Portugal and Croatia, Friday, July 3, 2026. | Photo: AP/Armando Franca
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