Ramos wins it in stoppage time and Portugal knock Croatia out 2-1 in a historic duel

A match with all the ingredients of an unforgettable World Cup game. At BMO Field in Toronto, Croatia opened the scoring through Perišić at 53 minutes, Portugal drew level via a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty at 68 — his first ever goal in the knockout stages of a World Cup across six tournaments — and, when everything pointed to extra time, Gonçalo Ramos headed home at 90'+4'. There was still time for Gvardiol to score what would have been the equalizer, ruled out by VAR for offside in the build-up. Portugal 2-1 Croatia.

The duel of legends between Ronaldo and Modrić ends with Croatia's elimination. Portugal march on — and now face Spain in Dallas on July 6, an early Iberian final.

The first meeting at a World Cup

Portugal and Croatia had met ten times in football history — at Euros, Nations League and friendlies — but had never faced each other at a World Cup before this game in Toronto. Despite both having played 2002, 2006, 2014 and 2022, the draws had kept them apart until 2026. It was therefore the two sides' historic World Cup debut against each other.

The complete head-to-head

Overall, the record clearly favors the Portuguese. Croatia's only win came in June 2024, in a friendly at the Estádio Nacional in Lisbon, when they won 2-1 with goals from Modrić and Ante Budimarović. In the 2024/25 Nations League, Portugal dominated again: 2-1 and 1-1. With the World Cup result, the updated head-to-head is:

• 8 Portuguese wins
• 2 draws
• 1 Croatian win

Portugal in World Cup knockouts

Portugal's story in the knockouts is punctuated by brilliant moments and early exits. Their best result was third place in 1966 in England, with Eusébio at his peak. In 2006, with Figo and Ronaldo, they returned to the semifinal and finished fourth. In 2022, they fell in the quarterfinals to Morocco — with Ronaldo's phrase "I will never give up" still echoing.

Croatia in World Cup knockouts

Croatia, independent since 1991, reached their first World Cup in 1998 and already finished third. In 2018, runners-up. In 2022, third again. A generation led by Modrić and Perišić that put a nation of 4 million people among the giants of world football for three decades.

Croatia's golden generation says goodbye in Toronto. Modrić, Perišić and the teammates who reached three semifinals in four editions leave with their heads high — Croatia may never have a generation like this again.

How the match unfolded

The shots-on-target count tells a peculiar story: Croatia had more (6 to 3), but lost. Portugal were less accurate but with maximum quality on their attempts: two ended in goals (Ronaldo's penalty and Ramos's header) and one was saved by Livaković. Portugal's 2.18 xG to Croatia's 1.34 reflects that Portugal created the more dangerous chances.

The first half was balanced and goalless. Perišić broke the deadlock early in the second and, for long minutes, it looked as if Croatia would control the result. Portugal's comeback came in three acts: the penalty converted by Ronaldo, Ramos's header in stoppage time and Gvardiol's disallowed goal — a victim of the cruelest nuances of modern football.

Match facts

• 53' — Ivan Perišić (CRO), left-footed finish after a gap in the Portuguese defense
• 68' — Cristiano Ronaldo (POR), penalty — 1st knockout World Cup goal of his career
• 90'+4' — Gonçalo Ramos (POR), header from a Rafael Leão cross
• Disallowed goal: Gvardiol (CRO), at 90'+13', for offside in the buildup (VAR)

Portugal's standouts

Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr, 41). At 41, in his sixth World Cup, he wrote another line into football history. The penalty at 68 was Ronaldo's first ever goal in the knockout stages of a World Cup across his entire career. In six appearances, he had only scored in the group stage — until today. He converted with his usual composure and opened the road to the comeback.

Gonçalo Ramos (Paris Saint-Germain, 23). The hero of Toronto. Received Rafael Leão's cross at the back post and headed home at 90'+4', sending Modrić's side out. He is the most decisive center-forward Portugal have at this World Cup.

Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United, 31). Named Footballer of the Year by the English Football Association in 2025/26, he is the man who connects Portugal's lines. Receives around the second box, circulates the ball, accelerates when needed and creates space for Ronaldo and Ramos. Central in the play for the winning goal.

Croatia's standouts

Luka Modrić (Real Madrid, 40). Five World Cups, 2018 Ballon d'Or, captain of a nation of 4 million that reached a final and two third places. He didn't score today, but he was the maestro who tried to bring order. At 40, with his Real Madrid contract nearing its end, this may have been the last time the world sees him at a World Cup.

Ivan Perišić (Hajduk Split, 37). Croatia's second all-time top scorer, behind only Šuker, opened the scoring with a veteran's finish at 53. He seized a gap in the Portuguese defense and hit it with his left foot — for long minutes, it looked enough to send Croatia into extra time.

Joško Gvardiol (Manchester City, 24). Croatia's most expensive defender came on in the second half and starred in the most dramatic moment of the game. At 90'+13', he headed home a delivery in a play that would have made it 2-2. VAR worked for over two minutes and ruled it out for offside in the buildup. Gvardiol scored a goal that didn't exist.

Market value: €1 billion vs €290 million

Portugal have a squad valued at over €1 billion. Tied at the top, Vitinha and João Neves — the two PSG midfielders are worth €140M each on Transfermarkt, reflecting the era in which PSG and Barcelona dominate Portugal's export football. On the Croatian side, Gvardiol is the most valuable at €70M; the Croatian squad is worth around €290M, heavily supported by veterans from 2018 and 2022.

Next opponent

In the round of 16, Portugal face Spain in Dallas on July 6. An Iberian derby with the weight of a final — and the chance for Ronaldo to keep writing the last page of his World Cup story. Follow it all here at Guriball.