Portugal booked their place in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Croatia, as substitute Gonçalo Ramos struck a stoppage-time winner after Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first-ever goal in a World Cup knockout match.
Ramos headed home in the 94th minute from a pinpoint cross by Rafael Leão just as the contest appeared destined for extra time, sealing Portugal’s comeback victory and setting up a last-16 showdown with Spain.
Portugal controlled much of the opening half but fell behind eight minutes into the second half when Ivan Perišić drilled a low finish into the bottom corner after Rúben Dias failed to clear a dangerous cross.
Croatia looked to have doubled their advantage shortly afterwards through substitute Igor Matanović, but the effort was ruled out for offside against Nikola Vlašić.
Portugal responded with renewed urgency. Rafael Leão rattled the crossbar with a curling strike before Ronaldo saw a chipped finish ruled out for a marginal offside.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner eventually found the breakthrough, making history by scoring his first goal in a FIFA World Cup knockout match to draw Portugal level and ignite the comeback.
Croatia thought they had snatched a dramatic winner deep into stoppage time when Joško Gvardiol forced the ball into the net. However, following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review, the goal was disallowed for offside after replays showed Matanović had made a slight touch before the ball reached Mario Pašalić, who was in an offside position before Gvardiol applied the finish.
With extra time looming, Leão produced another moment of quality, delivering a precise cross that Ramos met with a powerful header in the 94th minute to send Roberto Martínez’s side into the next round, where they will face Spain.
The victory also carried deep emotional significance as Portugal honoured the late Diogo Jota, almost one year after the Liverpool forward and his brother, Andre Silva, died in a car accident in Spain on July 3, 2025.
Before kick-off in Toronto, Jota’s image was displayed on the stadium’s giant screen during the Portuguese national anthem, prompting loud applause from supporters. Cameras also captured an emotional Ronaldo, who shared the pitch with Jota on 32 occasions for Portugal.
After the final whistle, Ronaldo led the tribute by holding aloft a Portugal shirt bearing Jota’s number 21 as his teammates gathered around him in a touching moment of remembrance.
Head coach Roberto Martínez had earlier dedicated Portugal’s World Cup campaign to the former Liverpool forward.
“Diogo is our sun and our light. We want to win the World Cup for him,” Martínez said before the match.
