Portugal survived one of the most dramatic matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32, beating Croatia 2-1 to book a place in the last 16 against Spain. Cristiano Ronaldo scored on a breakaway, but it was Goncalo Ramos who gave Toronto the chance to win.The result sent Portugal, however the talk of the game quickly turned to the goals. FIFA’s decision to make Ronaldo Man of the Match left many fans questioning whether the award should have gone to the player who scored the winning goal.
Goncalo Ramos sealed Portugal’s victory as Cristiano Ronaldo’s FIFA award drew attention.
Croatia looked set to pull back a memorable result after Ivan Perisic broke the deadlock early in the second half. Portugal responded through Ronaldo, who calmly converted the penalty to score his first World Cup goal and bring his team back into the competition.Just when extra time looked certain, Goncalo Ramos rose in the box to head home the winner in stoppage time. Croatia looked to have forced extra time later, but Josko Gvardiol’s equalizer was not there after VAR determined Mario Pasalic was offside following Igor Matanovic’s light touch in the build-up.The win also sparked speculation in Portugal, with players paying tribute to their late compatriot Diogo Jota after the final whistle. Roberto Martinez praised the behavior of his team, saying, “The World Cup started today for us. We played with pride, we represented the shirt. We showed character when we came back. This is a very special team and a very special day because of Diogo (Jota). I am satisfied and proud. Now we have to think about the next game.“
Fans question FIFA’s decision after Ronaldo receives yet another award
Although Ronaldo celebrated another milestone, many fans felt that the Man of the Match Award did not reflect his performance on the pitch. The 41-year-old equalized before being substituted, while Ramos scored the goal that decided the match.The internet reaction was quick to look at the idea of FIFA. One fan wrote, “Who won the match on the top penalty? The FIFA selection is crazy. They only have one sho.” Another wrote, “THE REAL MAN OF THE MATCH WINNER. GONCALO RAMOS.”Some even suggested that Portugal midfielder Diogo Costa or Ramos were the best in the whole 90 minutes. One contributor wrote, “Sorry, but what? What the hell did the f*** do?” while another added, “This nonsense! Another fan said, “Cristiano Ronaldo’s victory in the tournament is a disgrace to the establishment.”The debate also drew comparisons to previous World Cup tournaments. One fan wrote, “I love him more than any other player but this is like when messi won the world cup, he didn’t do anything in the game but they gave him man of the match.”The award will not change Portugal’s big win on the night. Ramos’ forward secured a place in the Round of 16, where Portugal will face Spain in a highly anticipated match.
