FIFA World Cup 2026 Live: Portugal achieve stunning victory to seal place in R16
It will be remembered as the night Toronto saw a clean, unsullied stadium. Portugal went into the round of 16 after coming out on top in the break, 109 minutes into which they pushed the limits of the modern game.
When Ivan Perišić broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute, a chill passed over the Portuguese team. Down on goal and looking unanswered against the former Croatia international, it looks like La Seleção’s journey to the 2026 World Cup has come to an early, disastrous end. The reality of Cristiano Ronaldo’s imminent retirement from the world of football hung heavily on the pitch.
But the Portuguese side refused to stop believing. Throwing caution to the wind, he stormed into the final third and forced a big foul from Croatia’s line, winning a penalty in the 68th minute. Arriving at the spot under intense pressure, Cristiano Ronaldo buried the goal into the back of the net to give his country a chance to escape.
Then came professional roulette. In the 82nd minute, manager Roberto Martínez made the decision to shake Ronaldo, replacing him with new legs. With the match seemingly headed for extra time and the dreaded penalty shootout lottery, the gamble paid off in spectacular fashion. In the 94th minute of the match, Rafael Leão delivered a peach of a cross, and Gonçalo Ramos stood tall and hit a high header beyond Livaković, breathing life into the Portuguese camp.
What followed in the final minutes of the standoff will be talked about for years. Within 10 minutes of extra time, Croatia launched a last-ditch attack. With the last kick of the game, the ball was hooked into the back of the net. The Croatian bench emptied, the players cried on the pitch, and the fans touched a human level of joy.
But it was not to be.
As the stadium rested for about ten minutes, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) reared its ugly head again. After a careful and difficult review, the referee ruled the match offside. The goal was brutally erased from the board.
It was a devastating, crushing end to Croatia’s most famous generation, but a cinematic finale to what is shaping up to be an exciting World Cup. Portugal survived the storm, completing a multi-year comeback.
Final score: Portugal 2 – 1 Croatia