Goncalo Ramos scored a 94th-minute winner to fire Portugal to the last-16 of the World Cup, edging Croatia after a dramatic second half. The match was goalless after tentative opening exchanges produced minimal threat, but Croatia raced out of the gates in the second, taking the fight to their neighbours. Ivan Perisic fired home with a clinical finish to open the scoring, before Cristiano Ronaldo, who had previously seen a goal ruled out for offside, equalised from the penalty spot after Nikola Vlasic rugby-tackled Renato Veiga.
After Petar Sucic then had a goal ruled out for an offside of his own, Ramos gave the Selecao a late lead, but that was not the end of the story. Josko Gvardiol scored another equaliser in the twelfth minute of the ten that had been added to send his team-mates into rapture, but it was denied for a marginal offside, restoring Portugal’s lead with mere minutes left to play.
Portugal will now face Spain in the round of 16, with that match due to take place in Dallas on July 6. Catch up with the action as it happened below with Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog, complete with expert insight and analysis.
Portugal vs Croatia latest news
- GOAL! Ramos gives Selecao injury-time advantage
- GOAL! Ronaldo buries crucial penalty
- NO GOAL! Ronaldo equaliser chalked off
- GOAL! Perisic breaks the deadlock
FULL-TIME: Portugal 2-1 Croatia
02:09 , Arthur Ferridge
Ronaldo and Co progress by the skin of their teeth. How do Croatia make top or tail of that? What a game of football...
02:08 , Arthur Ferridge
And still we play on...
NO GOAL! Portugal 2-1 Croatia
02:05 , Arthur Ferridge
Oh dear, oh dear. The most cruel VAR decision of all time? Gvardiol’s late equaliser is ruled out and Petar Sucic immediately bursts out in tears. That is galling.
02:04 , Arthur Ferridge
VAR will check it... there seems to be a potential offside, and the referee has been sent to the monitor.
GOAL! Portugal 2-2 Croatia | Gvardiol '90+13
02:03 , Arthur Ferridge
IT IS UNBELIEVABLE! CROATIA EQUALISE IN THE 13TH MINUTE OF INJURY TIME!
Portugal 2-1 Croatia
02:02 , Arthur Ferridge
100+12mins: Costa catches Perisic’s cross, and he falls on the ball. That must just about do it.
Portugal 2-1 Croatia
02:01 , Arthur Ferridge
90+12mins: Conceicao flashes a shot wide of the left upright.
Portugal 2-1 Croatia
02:01 , Arthur Ferridge
The ten minutes have been played...
Portugal 2-1 Croatia
01:59 , Arthur Ferridge
90+9mins: It comes to nothing. Goal kick for Portugal.
Portugal 2-1 Croatia
01:59 , Arthur Ferridge
90+9mins: Corner for Croatia...
Portugal 2-1 Croatia
01:57 , Arthur Ferridge
90+7mins: This will be the most frantic of finishes in Toronto. Croatia know it is all or nothing and are about to leave everything on the pitch.
Portugal 2-1 Croatia
01:56 , Arthur Ferridge
Dalic throws in the kitchen sink. Midfielder Kovacic is replaced by striker Kramaric.
Portugal 2-1 Croatia
01:55 , Arthur Ferridge
90+5mins: Luka Modric looks on the verge of tears. He can’t believe what he’s seeing.
GOAL! Portugal 2-1 Croatia | Ramos '90+4
01:54 , Arthur Ferridge
RAMOS SCORES! It must be the winner! Heartbreak for Croatia!
Portugal 1-1 Croatia
01:52 , Arthur Ferridge
90+3mins: Nuno Mendes goes down in the box, but his penalty appeals are waved away!
Portugal 1-1 Croatia
01:51 , Arthur Ferridge
90+2mins: Vlasic, who conceded that corner, has been replaced by Josko Gvardiol.
Portugal 1-1 Croatia
01:51 , Arthur Ferridge
There will be TEN ADDED MINUTES here!
Portugal 1-1 Croatia
01:48 , Arthur Ferridge
88mins: Pasalic makes a great run into the area, loses his man, and somehow contrives to head Sucic’s cross wide of the mark.
Portugal 1-1 Croatia
01:47 , Arthur Ferridge
87mins: Veiga nods Mendes’ inswinger wide.
Portugal 1-1 Croatia
01:46 , Arthur Ferridge
86mins: Conceicao wins a corner for Portugal...
Portugal 1-1 Croatia
01:45 , Arthur Ferridge
85mins: Leao hangs a sweet cross over the box, but it is too high for Conceicao, who is only 5ft5in tall, after all. Not the ideal target man.
Portugal 1-1 Croatia
01:42 , Arthur Ferridge
83mins: If I had to throw a prediction into the ether, I would say I don’t think this match is going to go to extra time. There must be another goal in this before the 90th minute.
Portugal 1-1 Croatia
01:41 , Arthur Ferridge
82mins: Ronaldo is hooked. Ruben Neves comes on in his place.
Portugal 1-1 Croatia
01:40 , Arthur Ferridge
80mins: Not again! Sucic latches onto a dream of a through-ball and finishes with aplomb, but the offside flag denies him again!
Portugal 1-1 Croatia
01:36 , Arthur Ferridge
75mins: Another brilliant stop from Costa. Livakovic twists and turns in the box, working a shooting angle but is smothered by the Portuguese keeper, who races off his line to nix the chance.
Portugal 1-1 Croatia
01:35 , Arthur Ferridge
75mins: How have Croatia not scored! Kovacic drives forward and shoots from range - but hits the post! He reclaims the ball and volleys at goal, but Costa does brilliantly to tip it over! Superb!
Portugal 1-1 Croatia
01:33 , Arthur Ferridge
74mins: Portugal have moved into a very high press as they look to nick a result here.
Portugal 1-1 Croatia
01:32 , Arthur Ferridge
And we are back underway. A huge, huge, final 20 minutes to come.
Portugal 1-1 Croatia
01:29 , Arthur Ferridge
That takes us to the hydration break. A big fourth quarter to come!
GOAL! Portugal 1-1 Croatia | Ronaldo '68
01:27 , Arthur Ferridge
RONALDO FINALLY GETS HIS WORLD CUP KNOCKOUT STAGE GOAL! And what an important goal it is! He buries the penalty to bring Portugal level in the round of 32!
Portugal 0-1 Croatia
01:26 , Arthur Ferridge
Ronaldo steps up...
PENALTY! Portugal 0-1 Croatia
01:26 , Arthur Ferridge
Penalty given!
Portugal 0-1 Croatia
01:26 , Arthur Ferridge
66mins: You have to wonder what Vlasic was thinking. He’s rugby tackled Veiga in the box, and can have no complaints if this is given.
Portugal 0-1 Croatia
01:25 , Arthur Ferridge
65mins: VAR are checking for a Portugal penalty! Seems Veiga was wrestled to the ground by Vlasic in chasing that corner.
The referee heads to the monitor...
Portugal 0-1 Croatia
01:23 , Arthur Ferridge
62mins: Well now, four changes for Portugal!
On: Semedo, Conceicao, Ramos, Bernardo Silva
Off: Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, Cancelo, Neto
Portugal 0-1 Croatia
01:21 , Arthur Ferridge
61mins: Just wait to see how close of an offside decision that was. Must be one of the tightest of the tournament so far - it was a great run.
Portugal 0-1 Croatia
01:21 , Arthur Ferridge
61mins: Heartbreaker! Ronaldo thinks he’s got his goal and is just about to leap into his signature celebration before spotting the offside flag go up over his shoulder.
Portugal 0-1 Croatia
01:19 , Arthur Ferridge
59mins: Croatia are flying! Sucic takes his turn to shoot now, and forces Costa into a tidy save.
Portugal 0-1 Croatia
01:17 , Arthur Ferridge
58mins: Time for early Portuguese reinforcements. Bernardo Silva and Goncalo Ramos are about to come on.
As I say that, Leao rattles the post!
Portugal 0-1 Croatia
01:16 , Arthur Ferridge
57mins: Oh! Croatia have it in the back of the net again through Matanovic but the offside flag is up!
GOAL! Portugal 0-1 Croatia | Perisic '53
01:13 , Arthur Ferridge
Perisic gives Croatia the lead! A looping cross falls to him in acres of space and he makes no mistake in firing home.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
01:09 , Arthur Ferridge
49mins: Portugal clear the Croatian corner as far as Vlasic, whose snap shot flashes wide.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
01:08 , Arthur Ferridge
48mins: How unlucky! A great move from Croatia, but Kovacic shoots into the side netting! Costa seems to have tipped it wide, in fact, and Croatia have a corner.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
01:06 , Arthur Ferridge
46mins: Portugal break forward immediately and Nuno Mendes seems to have a shooting chance, but he inexplicably opts to pass and the chance goes begging.
2ND HALF: Portugal 0-0 Croatia
01:05 , Arthur Ferridge
We are back underway here, and Matanovic has replaced Budimir for Croatia. Will that change make the difference?
Half-time photos
01:00 , Arthur Ferridge
HALF-TIME! Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:50 , Arthur Ferridge
It is goalless at the break! Portugal will certainly be frustrated, having had the vast majority of possession, but we head into half-time level.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:46 , Arthur Ferridge
45+2mins: CHANCE! Stanisic fails to clear Neto’s cross and Leao runs onto it. His first-time volley is over the bar.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:44 , Arthur Ferridge
43mins: Baturina’s cross is blocked and Portugal race away on the counter, but they run into traffic and are forced to cut back. Fernandes’ attempted through-ball eventually falls to Livakovic. They match rather meandering to the halfway mark now.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:41 , Arthur Ferridge
41mins: A pair of Portuguese corners go begging, with Perisic making a towering header to beat away Leao’s cross for the second.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:37 , Arthur Ferridge
37mins: Cancelo finds himself in space and drives a cross into the area for Livakovic to catch.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:37 , Arthur Ferridge
37mins: Sucic brings Fernandes down to give Portugal a free-kick dead centre, about 35 yards from goal.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:35 , Arthur Ferridge
36mins: A tidy one-two allows Kovacic the space to make a driving run forwards, but his through ball is poor and Croatia lose possession.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:34 , Arthur Ferridge
33mins: A bit of a chaotic moment as Portugal crack into the Croatia area and the ball pinballs around after a Leao cross, but Perisic eventually puts the ball behind for a corner, which is cleared.
This game is getting a wee bit feisty...
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:32 , Arthur Ferridge
32mins: Worth noting that, for those on European time zones, it is now precisely one year since Diogo Jota’s tragic passing.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:30 , Arthur Ferridge
30mins: Cancelo plays a great ball across the face of goal but neither Ronaldo nor Fernandes can get a touch to turn it goalwards.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:27 , Arthur Ferridge
28mins: Sucic makes a driving run forwards and goes down on the edge of the box, but does not get the free-kick he wants and Portugal clear.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:23 , Arthur Ferridge
23mins: Nuno Mendes launches a dangerous cross in search of Neto, but Pongracic makes a diving header to clear the danger.
Mendes is back on crossing duty for the subsequent corner and this time the ball makes it all the way to the back post, but it is headed behind.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:22 , Arthur Ferridge
22mins: We’ve hit on a bit of a fallow spell in the match, here. Portugal have an awful lot of possession but are struggling to pick away through this Croatian back five.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:18 , Arthur Ferridge
18mins: Modric swings a free-kick into the Portugal box but it is all too easily dealt with.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:17 , Arthur Ferridge
16mins: Nuno Mendes’ corner is headed over by the former Chelsea man Renato Veiga. Livakovic appears to have the sun in his eyes. You wonder if that might help Portugal catch him out today.
Roben Dias is subsequently booked for catching his man with his elbow as they contested for a high ball.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:13 , Arthur Ferridge
13mins: Ronaldo’s free-kick hits the wall and goes out for a throw-in. Regrettably, it appears to have hit Pongracic in the crotch. Thoughts and prayers to the Croatia centre-back, that looks sore.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:11 , Arthur Ferridge
12mins: Portugal have a free-kick which is very much within Ronaldo range. Let’s see what happens here...
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:09 , Arthur Ferridge
9mins: Pedro Neto plays a superb cross to the onrushing Ronaldo at the back post. Livakovic comes to claim and flaps at it, but it is Sutalo who gets the crucial touch to deny the great man his goal
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:07 , Arthur Ferridge
7mins: Cancelo earns a shooting chance from the corner but volleys over.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:06 , Arthur Ferridge
7mins: Leao sends another great cross to Fernandes and Livakovic is again drawn into action! Portugal win a first corner of the afternoon.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:04 , Arthur Ferridge
4mins: Well isn’t this a lively start! Leao gets down the outside and squares for Fernandes, whose first shot is well saved by Livakovic and his follow up is blocked!
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:03 , Arthur Ferridge
3mins: The first chance of the day falls to Croatia! Perisic puts Vlasic into space and his cross to Budimir meets its target, but the subsequent shot is all too tame and does not upset Costa.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:02 , Arthur Ferridge
2mins: Joao Pedro looks to make early inroads down the right flank but progress is minimal. He is dispossessed and Croatia get their first spell in possession of the day.
KICK-OFF! Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:00 , Arthur Ferridge
We’re off!
Here we go!
Thursday 2 July 2026 23:50 , Arthur Ferridge
The flags are unfurled and the players take to the pitch.
Almost time to get going in Toronto!
Team news reminder
Thursday 2 July 2026 23:45 , Arthur Ferridge
With 15 minutes to kick-off, a reminder of today’s team news.
Portugal XI: Costa, Dias, Veiga, Cancelo, Mendes, Fernandes, Neves, Vitinha, Ronaldo, Leao, Neto
Croatia XI: Livakovic, Stanisic, Pongracic, Sutalo, Kovacic, Modric, Vlasic, Baturina, Sucic, Budimir, Perisic
Roberto Martinez: 'Ronaldo is important, he is my captain'
Thursday 2 July 2026 23:37 , Arthur Ferridge
“Cristiano Ronaldo remains very important. He is the captain. Age is just a number. He sets an example with what he does in the dressing room. He’s an example for me.
“Tomorrow we start the World Cup, our second World Cup, so good preparation was essential, which consisted of the three group stage matches. There are aspects to improve, we did some things wrong, others right.
“We have to take the match where we want it. Croatia is similar to us because they like to have possession of the ball. Both teams are more dangerous when they have the ball, and that’s something we have to keep in mind.
“Beyond that, there are no secrets, as we’ve faced each other in the Nations League. I want to highlight the great work of their coach, who has been in charge for ten years. Modric, Gvardiol and Kovacic are great players.”
Cristiano chasing another record
Thursday 2 July 2026 23:30 , Arthur Ferridge
Cristiano Ronaldo has an opportunity to score his first-ever goal in a World Cup knockout match today.
He has made 25 appearances in World Cup matches, racking up ten goals and one assists, but has never found the back of the net outside the group stage.
No better time to score his first than today!
Zlatko Dalic explains where Portugal vs Croatia will be won and lost
Thursday 2 July 2026 23:27 , Arthur Ferridge
“I believe the key to this match will be in midfield
“Portugal have a fantastic national team with outstanding players who organise their game. They have great depth, they play very good football and every mistake against them will be punished.
“They wait for the right moment. Vitinha is their main player, alongside Bruno Fernandes, João Félix and others. We have to prepare for that.”
Atmosphere building in Toronto
Thursday 2 July 2026 23:21 , Arthur Ferridge
Ronaldo to retire from international duty
Thursday 2 July 2026 23:17 , Arthur Ferridge
Cristiano Ronaldo will retire from international duty following this World Cup, his sister Katia has claimed.
She tells Sport TV: “Enjoy it while it lasts. It's ending soon. The info I have, from a reliable source… this is his last dance.”
Who will Portugal or Croatia face in the round of 16?
Thursday 2 July 2026 23:10 , Arthur Ferridge
Whoever comes out on top in this match will face Spain in the round of 16.
La Roja confirmed their progression with a 3-0 defeat of Austria earlier today.
Portugal and Croatia group stage results in full
Thursday 2 July 2026 23:07 , Arthur Ferridge
Portugal:
1-1 D vs DR Congo
5-0 W vs Uzbekistan
0-0 D vs Colombia
Croatia:
4-2 L vs England
1-0 W vs Panama
2-1 W vs Ghana
Croatia confirmed team news
Thursday 2 July 2026 22:57 , Arthur Ferridge
A couple of big calls from Croatia as Nikola Vlasic, who headed home the winner last time out against Ghana as a super-sub, starts against Portugal. Petar Sucic keeps his place after scoring the opener.
Josko Gvardiol remains on the bench with Ivan Perisic set to continue at left back.
The legend Luka Modric starts in midfield.
Portugal confirmed team news
Thursday 2 July 2026 22:47 , Arthur Ferridge
There are no great surprises in the Portugal squad, though it is interesting to see Bernardo Silva drop to the bench.
Joao Felix has been dropped, too, with Rafa Leao taking his place on the left flank.
It will be Cristiano Ronaldo through the middle, with Joao Pedro completing the front three.
CROATIA CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS
Thursday 2 July 2026 22:39 , Arthur Ferridge
Croatia XI: Livakovic, Stanisic, Pongracic, Sutalo, Kovacic, Modric, Vlasic, Baturina, Sucic, Budimir, Perisic
Subs: Pandur, Kotarski, Gvardiol, Caleta-Car, Jakic, Vuckovic, Erlic, Moro, Pasalic, Fruk, Sucic, Kramaric, Matanovic, Pasalic, Musa
PORTUGAL CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS
Thursday 2 July 2026 22:37 , Arthur Ferridge
Portugal XI: Costa, Dias, Veiga, Cancelo, Mendes, Fernandes, Neves, Vitinha, Ronaldo, Leao, Neto
Subs: Sa, Silva, Semedo, Araujo, Dalot, Inacio, Costa, Nunes, Silva, R. Neves, Ramos, Felix, Trincao, Guedes, Conceicao
Portugal and Croatia predicted XIs
Thursday 2 July 2026 22:25 , Arthur Ferridge
Portugal predicted XI: Costa; Cancelo, Dias, Veiga, Mendes; Vitinha, Joao Neves; Neto, Fernandes, Felix; Ronaldo
Croatia predicted XI: Livakovic; Stanisic, Sutalo, Pongracic, Gvardiol; Sucic, Modric, Kovacic; Baturina, Budimir, Perisic
Head to head
Thursday 2 July 2026 22:15 , Arthur Ferridge
Portugal wins: 7
Croatia wins: 1
Draws: 2
Standard Sport prediction
Thursday 2 July 2026 22:05 , Arthur Ferridge
This clash is a hard one to call. On paper, Portugal boast greater attacking depth, but Croatia have the better recent experience in World Cup knockouts having been among the final four teams in the previous two editions.
We can see both teams scoring and the showdown being settled by the finest of margins - a penalty shootout where Ronaldo and co. come out on top.
Portugal to win on penalties.
Croatia early team news
Thursday 2 July 2026 21:55 , Arthur Ferridge
As for Croatia, Luka Vuskovic may have to settle for a place on the bench once again as he closes in on a £50million transfer from Tottenham to Brighton.
Zlatko Dalic appears to have ditched the back three formation following the loss to England but Luka Modric remains the heartbeat of this team and is likely to be partnered in midfield by Manchester City’s Mateo Kovacic.
Portugal early team news
Thursday 2 July 2026 21:45 , Arthur Ferridge
Joao Neves is expected to return to the Portugal XI after, surprisingly, being dropped to the bench for the goalless draw against Colombia. The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder should replace Ruben Neves in the engine room, joining club team-mate Vitinha and Manchester United assist-machine Bruno Fernandes.
Martinez does have a big decision to make on the flanks as neither Pedro Neto or Joao Felix impressed last time out, with Rafa Leao pushing to make his first start of the tournament.
Captain Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to lead the line as he looks to gain ground on Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane in the Golden Boot race.
How to watch Portugal vs Croatia
Thursday 2 July 2026 21:35 , Arthur Ferridge
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on BBC One, with coverage starting at 11.30pm BST on Thursday, July 2.
Live stream: UK viewers can also catch the contest live online via BBC iPlayer or the BBC website.
Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog.
Good evening
Thursday 2 July 2026 21:30 , Arthur Ferridge
Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Portugal vs Croatia in the World Cup round of 32.
Two sides with plenty of footballing pedigree meet here in what should be a fascinating clash. Who will come out on top?
We shall see! This match will get underway at midnight BST. Stick with us for all the latest!
