Goncalo Ramos headed in a pass from Rafael Leao in stoppage time as Cristiano Ronaldo, who had earlier converted a penalty kick, watched from the bench as Portugal defeated Croatia 2-1 on Thursday (July 2, 2026), ending Luka Modric’s fifth bid for a World Cup.

FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout schedule: Matches in Indian Time

Ronaldo initially tied things up in the 68th minute on a penalty kick to equalise and give the megastar his first knockout stage goal at the World Cup, but it was Ramos who gave Portugal the victory.

The game ended in controversy as Croatia thought it had tied things up 2-2 in the very last moments, but Mario Pasalic was called offside as VAR ruled no goal. Croatia fans threw bottles on the field and whistled in protest.

Croatia opened the scoring in the 53rd minute when Ivan Perisic scored in the 53rd minute off a cross from Josip Sanisic.

Portugal moves on to face Spain on Monday in the round of 16.

Modric led Croatia to second- and third-place finishes in 2018 and 2022 but could not come back. (AP) GRS GRS