TORONTO, ONTARIO __ A game befitting its living legends played out Thursday at the World Cup’s Round of 32, as Cristiano Ronaldo’s likely last World Cup continued at the expense of Luka Modric’s final bow, with Portugal outlasting Croatia 2-1 in an instant classic.
Ronaldo’s tournament continues thanks to another one of Portugal’s center forwards, as Goncalo Ramos headed the Portuguese to a win in the fourth minute of stoppage time and Croatia had a last-gasp equalizer ruled out after more than 10 minutes of added time.
MORE — Modric, Ronaldo, and a Portuguese-Croatian-Canadian love triangle in Toronto
The Round of 32 games saw former Real Madrid teammates at odds in pursuit of a long-sought World Cup crown, and Croatia took a 53rd minute lead through fellow legend Ivan Perisic.
VAR helped award Portugal a chance to tie it from the spot, and Ronaldo buried his chance with a questionably-legal run-up to square the match in the 68th minute. Two goals arrived after the 90th minute but only Ramos’ would stand as Josko Gvardiol’s would-be equalizer was overturned due to offside on Mario Pasalic.
The match was played in a Greater Toronto Area which features significant and passionate Portuguese and Croatian populations, and — as one fan told us — is the biggest sporting event in the history of Toronto.
It’s difficult to argue with that.
Portugal vs Croatia final score: 2-1
Ivan Perisic 53', Cristiano Ronado pen 68', Goncalo Ramos 90+4'
Cristiano Ronaldo has put on a red Diogo Jota #21 jersey and is leading the cheers after the game.
An instant classic with more VAR than one could handle, perhaps, but unbelievable scenes and noise in Toronto.
If this World Cup had yet to fully arrive, it is here and the impression is indelible.
The goal will not stand! And the Croatian end is firing trash all over the pitch.
Not sure exactly what is happening, but a goal beyond the 10th minute of stoppage is now under review!
Have Croatia drawn level or no? Josko Gvardiol’s goal will not count. Offside!
Portugal’s center forward gets it done, but it isn’t Ronaldo!
Goncalo Ramos at the back past thuds a cross past Livakovic in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
¡¡¡GOOOOOOOOOOOOL DE PORTUGAAAAAAL!!! ¡¡¡LO VAN A GANAR EN EL ÚLTIMO MINUTO!!!
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 3, 2026
Gonçalo Ramos mete un tremendo golazo de cabeza y remonta el partido sobre Croacia. pic.twitter.com/XF4eaDFOvr
Well, these boys could well end up playing 135 or so minutes if it gets to extra time.
A massive ovation for the Portuguese hero, who is being replaced by ex-Wolves star Ruben Neves.
With respect to Eusebio, the two greatest players in the history of their storied countries are playing in an instant classic which will be in all likelihood be the end of one of their World Cup careers. Oh, and they played together on a Champions League dynasty. Incredible tension.
Mateo Kovacic beats Diogo Costa but not the post.
The ball is recycled and knocked down for Kovacic, who spins a ball off the outside of his foot and is saved by Costa.
The ensuing corner is headed over the bar.
Stadiums don’t get much louder than that.
Ronaldo completely stops his penalty run, then goes the other way with aplomb.
🇵🇹🐐 DESDE CANCHA: ¡CRISTIANO SALVA A PORTUGAL! 🇭🇷🔥
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 3, 2026
¡Frialdad absoluta del "Bicho"! Cuando el panorama era más oscuro, Cristiano Ronaldo apareció desde el punto penal para poner el 1-1 que le devuelve el alma al cuerpo y le da vida a Portugal ante Croacia. ⚽️💪
¿Le alcanzará a… pic.twitter.com/Q2CYCAT3oj
Vlasic took down Veiga and Ronaldo goes to the spot.
An ornery crowd is now incredibly loud as Ronaldo thinks there’s a penalty and VAR is sending referee Espen Eskas to the pitchside monitor.
That was actually a lot closer than a full body, but offside nonetheless... by a CR7 shoulder.
Bernardo Silva, Francisco Conceicao, Goncalo Ramos, and Nelson Semedo enter the game in the 63rd minute.
Out go Vitinha, Pedro Neto, Joao Cancelo, and Bruno Fernandes.
It’s a clever finish from the legend and the stadium is at full volume with “Sius” but Ronaldo may have been a full body offside.
Modric was late to join in the goal celebrations as he opted to give a bit of the business to a perturbed Bruno Fernandes.
The stadium builds to a crescendo erupts as it sees Leao in space for a rip, but his shot tears off the cross bar with vigor.
Somehow keeping his nerve after a bumbled first touch, it’s 1-0 with the veteran Perisic settling the ball and slapping it past Diogo Costa in the 53rd minute.
It’s Stanisic’s cross that makes it happen for ex-Spurs player Perisic.
And on second thought, it’s Perisic’s second touch which is the ‘problem’ but it also means Costa is a little unsettled and might’ve aided the ball’s path to goal.
Croatia cause chaos at the back and Kovacic stumbles into the box, his shot blocked into the side netting for a corner.
Modric takes his time to send in his service, only to play it short. It’s eventually shot wide for a goal kick.
0-0, 50'
La Liga star Budimir is off and Igor Matanovic will take his place.
An incredible airborne trap on the touchline by Joao Cancelo gives him a chance to cut past his defender and whip in a cross.
Bruno Fernandes thinks he’s impeded on his route to the ball but it gets to Ronaldo, whose contested header is pounded off the turf and wide of the post.
... and have almost nothing to show for it.
Dias being on a yellow card could become more of an issue but for now Croatia are rarely threatening his area.
Let’s see if Croatia can do something with the hydration break.
The entire building is ready to Siu.
Portugal build a wall in front of Croatia’s wall, but Ronaldo cannot beat the blue shirts and the crisis is averted for now.
The fourth minute brings real danger!
Bruno Fernandes’ late-arriving run is met by the blazing fast Rafa Leao, but Dominik Livakovic gets wide and makes a save and Croatia block the rebound.
Croatia in royal blue and Portugal in white and teal.
No checkerboards, no deep red.
Fans are chanting his signature “Siuuu” even when Cristiano Ronaldo hits balls into empty, unguarded goals during warm-ups.
The Croatian fans try to counter with boos, but the heavy Portuguese contingent is just a bit louder in this city with heavy Croatian and Portuguese heritage.
Starting XI: Livakovic, Stanisic, Sutalo, Pongracic, Perisic, Kovacic, Modric, Vlasic, Sucic, Baturina, Budimir
Zlatko Dalic keeps Josko Gvardiol, Andrej Kramaric, Luka Vuskovic and both Pasalics — Marco and Mario — on the bench.
Starting XI: Costa, Mendes, Veiga, Dias, Cancelo, Vitinha, J. Neves, Leao, B. Fernandes, Neto, Ronaldo
Bernardo Silva, Joao Felix, and Goncalo Ramos are among the players who will wait to make their mark on this game.
It’s not a surprise that 40-year-old Luka Modric and 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo have woven their way through each others’ legendary journeys in football.
The pair were teammates from Modric’s Real Madrid arrival from Spurs in late August 2012 through Ronaldo’s move to Juventus in June 2018.
They won La Liga once together and shared four Champions League titles.
Modric has the 2018 Ballon d’Or while Ronaldo won five of them between 2008-2017.
The series has grown tighter this decade, but Portugal have a strong record against Croatia.
Their 7W-2D-1L record includes an even 1-1-1 run since June 2024.
Kick off time: 7pm ET Thursday
Venue: Toronto Stadium — Canada
TV Channel: Telemundo, en Espanol; FOX
Streaming: Stream live on Peacock, en Espanol
