Portugal’s World Cup dream remains alive, as does Cristiano Ronaldo’s, after his side edged past Croatia 2-1 in the most dramatic of last-32 ties.
It was a game that saw several goals ruled out for offside and the woodwork struck twice, but ultimately a last-gasp goal from Goncalo Ramos proved decisive.
After Ivan Perisic put Croatia ahead in the second half, Ronaldo scored a penalty to equalise before being substituted as regular time neared its conclusion. And there was more drama in added time, as Ramos – Ronaldo’s replacement – produced a stunning header before VAR denied Josko Gvardiol an equaliser due to offside, leading Croatia fans to throw bottles onto the pitch in anger.
Next up for Portugal? A tough test against European champions Spain in the last 16.
Follow all the fallout from the World Cup last-32 tie, below:
Portugal v Croatia LIVE
- FULL TIME: Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 in World Cup last 32 in Toronto
- 90+13' NO GOAL! Gvardiol’s strike is fourth ruled out for offside, as fans throw bottles
- 90+4' GOAL! Ramos’s superb header puts Portugal ahead in dying moments [POR 2-1 CRO]
- 75' POST! Kovacic strikes woodwork then forces good save out of Costa
- 68' GOAL! Ronaldo drives penalty down the middle after Vlasic foul [POR 1-1 CRO]
- 58' CROSSBAR! Leao rattles woodwork with powerful strike from long range
- 53' GOAL! Perisic slides ball under goalkeeper Costa to secure lead [POR 0-1 CRO]
- Spain await in last 16 after European champions eased past Austria
The match in data
06:00 , Alan Smith
🇵🇹 Portugal 2-1 Croatia 🇭🇷
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) July 3, 2026
One day we'll tell our grandchildren of The Offside Game. pic.twitter.com/Bo3fEBiP0o
Golden Boot standings
05:30 , Alan Smith
The golden boot race continues to heat up with Ronaldo grabbing his third goal
World Cup 2026 Golden Boot: Mbappe, Messi, Haaland, Kane top standings in race
Spain up next
05:00 , Kieran Jackson in Los Angeles
Spain await in Dallas on Monday and Kieran Jackson was on hand to watch their convincing win against Austria earlier.
Are you watching, France? This is why Spain are peaking at just the right time
Ron's big breakthrough
04:45 , Alan Smith
1 - Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty against Croatia was his only touch inside the opposition box in his 81 minutes spent on the pitch.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 3, 2026
It was also his first-ever goal in the knockout stages of the World Cup.
Breakthrough. pic.twitter.com/Tp8PrO9rp5
Ramos the hero
04:30 , Alan Smith
47 - Gonçalo Ramos tem média de um golo a cada 47 minutos em campo em Mundiais (4 golos em 187 minutos), a melhor da história de Portugal na competição.
— OptaJoao (@OptaJoao) July 3, 2026
Herói. pic.twitter.com/ukYxjG72pS
Why was Josko Gvardiol’s goal disallowed? Croatia fans throw bottles on pitch amid VAR controversy
04:15 , Will Castle
Croatia had their hearts broken by another contentious VAR decision at the 2026 World Cup after having a last-gasp equaliser chalked off against Portugal in the round of 32.
Portugal thought they had the game won when Goncalo Ramos headed home in the 94th minute, making it 2-1 after Cristiano Ronaldo had cancelled out Ivan Perisic’s opener from the spot.
But Croatia kept coming deep into stoppage time and as the ball was whipped in from the left in the 103rd minute, it was met by Mario Pasalic who knocked the ball into the path of Manchester City’s Josko Gvardiol to convert.
It appeared that Croatia had saved their skin in the final seconds, with the game looking set for extra time.
Why Croatia’s goal vs Portugal was disallowed as bottles hurled in protest
04:00 , Alan Smith
LEGENDARY!
— MisterChip (English) (@MisterChiping) July 3, 2026
Ivan Perišić enters World Cup immortality: he's the SECOND player ever with a goal and an assist in FOUR different World Cups.
Just him and Messi. Nobody else. pic.twitter.com/QZBZqtXwYy
A legend departs
03:45 , Alan Smith
39 - This was Luka Modric's 39th game at a major tournament (23 at the World Cup, 16 at the Euros).
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 3, 2026
Among European outfield players, only Cristiano Ronaldo has made more, with 56.
Monuments. pic.twitter.com/YuskVOg8CL
Jota tributes
03:30 , Will Castle
A touching tribute was paid to Diogo Jota during the Portuguese national anthem before their World Cup last-32 clash with Croatia, on the first anniversary of his tragic death.
A picture of Jota, a former Portugal international, appeared on the big screen at BMO Field in Toronto, flashing up to a cheer towards the end of Portugal’s national anthem "A Portuguesa".
Cristiano Ronaldo appeared emotional as the cameras came on to him at the end of the anthem, who played alongside Jota 32 times for his country.
And at full-time the Portugal captain wore the No.21 shirt of his former teammate while the team toasted their dramatic win.
Jota given touching World Cup tribute during Portugal national anthem
Player of the match, apparently
03:15 , Alan Smith
Ronaldo’s tears, Martinez’s choice, Modric’s ending: a World Cup epic
03:00 , Richard Jolly in Toronto
Belatedly, Roberto Martinez was stirred out of his slumber. A manager who can look smilingly passive was facing the end: of Portugal’s World Cup, perhaps of his reign, too. Portugal’s perplexing first half had brought 69 per cent of possession and a lone shot on target.
Then they trailed and Martinez showed a decisiveness he is often accused of lacking. A quadruple change altered the momentum, the World Cup. One of the arrivals, Goncalo Ramos, was to prove the man who did something many an opponent has failed to accomplish in the last two World Cups and finish off Croatia.
But Martinez’s later, and final, change was his most instructive, perhaps his most influential.
Ronaldo’s tears, Martinez’s choice and Modric’s ending: Inside a World Cup epic
Ronaldo breaks teammates's record
02:45 , Alan Smith
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first ever World Cup knockout-stage goal - while also breaking a team-mate’s record - to give Portugal a lifeline in their last-32 clash against Croatia.
Trailing 1-0 after fellow veteran Ivan Perisic, 37, broke the deadlock in the second-half, Portugal were awarded a penalty by VAR after Nikola Vlasic brought down Renato Veiga during a corner.
Ronaldo stepped up and slotted down the middle to beat Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, ending a six-tournament wait for him to find the net in a knockout match.
It also meant Ronaldo, at 41, becomes the oldest ever player to score in the World Cup knockouts, snatching the record off former international and club team-mate Pepe, who scored at 39 years and nine months.
Cristiano Ronaldo breaks team-mate’s World Cup record with first-ever knockout goal
The longest half
02:30 , Alan Smith
POR 🇵🇹 2-1 🇭🇷 CRO (FT)
— MisterChip (English) (@MisterChiping) July 3, 2026
The second half had 18 minutes and 51 seconds of stoppage time.
An ALL-TIME RECORD for added time in a single period (first half, second half or extra time) in the history of the World Cup.
It beats the 14 minutes and 3 seconds from the first half of…
Joy and heartbreak in equal measure
02:12 , Alan Smith
Ronaldo and Modric embrace in the centre circle. One will continue in this tournament, thanks to the man who should have his position. The other will not play another minute of World Cup action at the end of a stunning career.
Many Croatia players are in tears. Kovacic is distraught. Sucic is heartbroken. Modric is now embracing them.
An epic tie
02:10 , Richard Jolly in Toronto
Epic tie, from half time anyway. Croatia were magnificent. Martinez and Portugal eventually rescued themselves.
Full-time! Portugal 2-1 Croatia
02:09 , Alan Smith
109’ - And Portugal are through after the most dramatic ending to a match you will see for a very, very long time.
Portugal 2-1 Croatia
02:09 , Alan Smith
109’ - We’re playing again. For how much longer, I have no idea.
Portugal 2-1 Croatia
02:08 , Alan Smith
108’ - Yes, it’s the 108th minute. Bottles continue to be thrown. Perisic is asking for the Croatia fans to stop. They are now showing the offside on the big screen, which does not help matters.
GOAL DISALLOWED BY VAR! Portugal 2-1 Croatia
02:06 , Alan Smith
It won’t count. The VAR says that Mantanovic got a touch before Veiga nodded it back. And Portugal are about to go through.
There are some ugly scenes in the crowd with bottles now raining down on to the pitch.
I’m not sure if play will restart or not. It looks like it could.
VAR check
02:04 , Alan Smith
Perisic’s cross from the left is headed backwards by Veiga into the path of Pasalic. He is offside and puts the ball across the goalface for Gvardiol to finish. But now there is a VAR check... and they are getting the snicko tools out.
GOAL! Portugal 2-2 Croatia (Gvardiol 103)
02:03 , Alan Smith
They are level! Incredible. We’re heading to extra-time.
Portugal 2-1 Croatia
02:02 , Alan Smith
102’ - Conceicao dribbles in and has a shot that goes so wide Croatia have a throw-in near the corner flag. Again, we play on.
Portugal 2-1 Croatia
02:01 , Alan Smith
101’ - Joao Neves does really well to shadow a pass in from Sucic, allowing it to trickle out for a goal kick while blocking Modric’s run towards it. We’re playing on...
Portugal 2-1 Croatia
01:59 , Alan Smith
100’ - It’s swung in but Matanovic bundles it out for a goal kick.
Portugal 2-1 Croatia
01:57 , Alan Smith
99’ - Perisic wins a corner. The goalkeeper is not yet coming up.
Header, heartbreak
01:56 , Richard Jolly in Toronto
What a header from Goncalo Ramos. What a cross from Rafa Leao. What heartbreak for Croatia.
Portugal 2-1 Croatia
01:56 , Alan Smith
95’ - Ronaldo is set to appear in another World Cup match - thanks to the centre forward who should be leading Portugal’s line in his stead! It is a magnificent glancing header, rising between Gvardiol and Pongracic to meet Leao’s cross.
Portugal’s staff and substitutes are on the pitch celebrating. A fan is on there too and now being escorted off.
Kovacic is replaced by Kramaric for the final moments.
GOAL! Portugal 2-1 Croatia (Ramos 94)
01:53 , Alan Smith
What. A. Header.
Portugal 1-1 Croatia
01:53 , Alan Smith
93’ - Mendes goes down in the box and wants a penalty. The referee waves for him to get up. Ronaldo is having a go at the fourth official and has now been told to do one.
Portugal 1-1 Croatia
01:52 , Alan Smith
92’ - Vlasic is replaced by Gvardiol, which should mean Perisic pushes into the midfield from full back.
Portugal 1-1 Croatia
01:50 , Alan Smith
90’ - There will be 10 added minutes. Can either find a winner?
Ronaldo breaks Portugal team-mate’s World Cup record with first-ever knockout goal
01:50 , Alex Pattle
Ronaldo, at 41, becomes the oldest ever player to score in the World Cup knockouts, snatching the record off former international and club team-mate Pepe.
Cristiano Ronaldo breaks team-mate’s World Cup record with first-ever knockout goal
Portugal 1-1 Croatia
01:49 , Alan Smith
89’ - Now it’s Pasalic’s turn to go so close, heading across the face of goal and wide having run on to a Sucic cross.
Portugal 1-1 Croatia
01:47 , Alan Smith
86’ - Conceicao wins a corner off Perisic. Mendes takes it and finds Veiga but the centre back directs another header wide.
Portugal 1-1 Croatia
01:45 , Alan Smith
85’ - Both teams are playing like they are desperate not to have extra-time. If it continues like this second period, we wouldn’t say no.
Too open in midfield
01:43 , Richard Jolly in Toronto
The moment we thought would never happen. Martinez has taken off Ronaldo. Portugal were too open in midfield, so on comes Ruben Neves.
Portugal 1-1 Croatia
01:42 , Alan Smith
82’ - Ronaldo is being subbed off and he looks gutted. Neves is on. There is a handshake for Martinez but he can barely conceal his disappointment while walking off.
Portugal 1-1 Croatia
01:42 , Alan Smith
80’ - Sucic has the ball in the net but it’s ruled offside. Kovacic finds him with a delightful pass and it looks like Mendes might be playing Sucic on. It’s a whisker but the right decision. The finish was sweet too, rolled smoothly past the onrushing Costa. Sucic goes off to celebrate with the ball and it takes him a few seconds to realise it won’t count.
Portugal 1-1 Croatia
01:38 , Alan Smith
78’ - The break has helped Croatia. They are on top now, perhaps enjoying their most sustained spell of possession all game.
Portugal 1-1 Croatia
01:37 , Alan Smith
77’ - Now Costa makes a big save from Matanovic from a tight angle, making himself big to stop it.
Portugal 1-1 Croatia
01:36 , Alan Smith
75’ - Kovacic hits the post! He drives forward from midfield, space opens before him as Veiga is caught between closing or retreating. The shot comes off the finger tips of Costa at full stretch, diverting it off the upright. And when a rebound makes its way to Kovacic, his second attempt is touched over the bar by Costa for a corner.
Portugal 1-1 Croatia
01:32 , Alan Smith
72’ - We’re back underway.
A very good penalty
01:30 , Richard Jolly in Toronto
Ronaldo finally has his goal in a World Cup knockout game. And in fairness, it was a very good penalty.
Portugal 1-1 Croatia
01:29 , Alan Smith
69’ - Pasalic is on for Baturina. The match resumes for 20 seconds and then we have the advertising break, just as it looked like the match was about to completely lose the plot.
GOAL! Portugal 1-1 Croatia (Ronaldo 68pen)
01:27 , Alan Smith
He drives it down the middle and Portugal are level. What a remarkable few minutes we’ve just witnessed.
Penalty given! Portugal 0-1 Croatia
01:26 , Alan Smith
67’ - Vlasic is penalised and Ronaldo may be about to score his first World Cup knockout goal.
VAR check for penalty! Portugal 0-1 Croatia
01:25 , Alan Smith
65’ - Veiga is demanding he should have a penalty having been dragged down by Vlasic from that corner. VAR are having a look and Ronaldo has already picked the ball up.
Ramos, Semedo, Silva and Conceicao are all on. Neto, Vitinha, Fernandes and Cancelo are off.
Portugal 0-1 Croatia
01:24 , Alan Smith
63’ - Ronaldo remains on the pitch! A decision that has stunned me so much that you’ll need to wait a minute for news of the four changes that have been made. The game has restarted with Portugal winning a corner that Mendes will take.
He swings it in and both Veiga and Leao throw themselves at it but the ball is out for a goal kick.
Portugal 0-1 Croatia
01:22 , Alan Smith
62’ - The goal is disallowed. Ronaldo was marginally off - it’s his left shoulder and half a head. And he now stands with hands on hips waiting to see if he is one of the four players to come off. Could this be his final ever World Cup moment?
Portugal 0-1 Croatia
01:21 , Alan Smith
61’ - But Ronaldo now has the ball in the net with a brilliant chip over Livakovic... except the offside flag has gone up. It will be checked...
Portugal 0-1 Croatia
01:20 , Alan Smith
59’ - Suddenly the game has become end-to-end. Perisic gets forward again, Costa saves and Croatia have a corner that is cleared.. Portugal aim to break through Vitinha but Modric brings him down, taking one for a team by accepting a yellow card.
Portugal are about to make four changes. Yes, four. Will Ronaldo be one?
Portugal 0-1 Croatia
01:18 , Alan Smith
58’ - Leao has almost scored arguably the goal of the tournament so far! He cuts in towards the ‘D’ and unleashes a venomous effort that rattles the crossbar, which is left shaking as much as the nervous system of the Croatia defence.
Hail Perisic
01:17 , Richard Jolly in Toronto
What an extraordinary international career Ivan Perisic has had. He has won 158 caps. He has scored in a World Cup final. And he might be taking Croatia through here
Portugal 0-1 Croatia
01:17 , Alan Smith
57’ - Croatia think they have scored again but Vlasic, who provided the assist for Mantanovic to finish, was slightly offside. The right call and it remains 1-0.
Portugal 0-1 Croatia
01:15 , Alan Smith
54’ - Stanisic puts the cross in from the right and Dias’ headed clearance is only to Perisic near the back stick and he finishes. What a moment for the other veteran on the pitch. Now how can Portugal respond to some adversity? Hauling Ronaldo off would be a reasonable start.
GOAL! Portugal 0-1 Croatia (Perisic 53)
01:13 , Alan Smith
And it’s the sprightly 37-year-old who breaks the deadlock in Toronto!
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
01:13 , Alan Smith
52’ - Ronaldo receives the ball with his back to goal approximately 30 yards out. He could turn. Instead he does some feints and loses possession. Ronaldo watch has been difficult so far here.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
01:09 , Alan Smith
48’ - Kovacic scrambles his way into the box, past Cancelo, and, off balance, the midfielder brings a first save from Costa. The goalkeeper uses his foot to make the stop, giving away a corner.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
01:06 , Alan Smith
46’ - Within 15 seconds of the restart Mendes gallops into the box and looks in a great position to shoot. Except he chooses to find Ronaldo instead and his pass fails to reach the captain, meaning a move of such promise breaks down.
Portugal must do better
01:05 , Richard Jolly in Toronto
Portugal turned 69 percent of possession in the first half into one shot on target. Which is not really enough. Can they do better in the second? Roberto Martinez has sent out the same team which means, predictably, Ronaldo is on the pitch again.
Restarted! Portugal 0-0 Croatia
01:05 , Alan Smith
46’ - Portugal get us going again.
One Croatia change at the break: Matanovic is on for Budimir.
Half-time! Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:57 , Alex Pattle
Half-time! Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:49 , Alan Smith
That’s the break. Croatia will be happy with that having slowed a rapid Portugal start and turned the game into a gritty, scrappy enough encounter.
Croatians make themselves heard
Friday 3 July 2026 00:48 , Richard Jolly in Toronto
It looks and feels to me as though Croatia fans outnumber the Portuguese here today and there has been a long loud chorus of "Hrvatska". Or Croatia, in Croatian.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:47 , Alan Smith
46’ - Neto puts in a good delivery having shifted on to his left foot. Stanisic gets in the way of a ball destined for Fernandes and Leao smashes an acrobatic rebound off target.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:45 , Alan Smith
45’ - There will be four added minutes. It is all getting a bit stale.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:43 , Alan Smith
43’ - Croatia are starting to grow in confidence. They have done a good job at stifling Portugal’s creativity and are beginning to step up in greater numbers when on the ball.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:40 , Alan Smith
40’ - Fernandes wins a corner off Stanisic. It’s deep and headed out for another by Sutalo.
Modric makes his move
Friday 3 July 2026 00:39 , Richard Jolly in Toronto
Remarkable moment as Luka Modric went to run in behind the Portugal defence, coming from deep. He didn't actually get the ball, but it showed the footballing brain to notice where the gap would be and the determination to get there. He has been very deep today but, briefly, he was the furthest man forward.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:37 , Alan Smith
37’ - Croatia have everyone camped back while Portugal pass it about patiently. A long spell eventually ends with Fernandes winning a soft foul off Sucic.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:34 , Alan Smith
33’ - Fernandes drives a low cross for Livakovic to parry and from the rebound Fernandes’ second attempt is blocked for yet another corner. It is half-cleared to Mendes and his shot is blocked. Croatia then seek to break but Neto tracks back determinedly to take the ball off Baturina.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:31 , Alan Smith
30’ - How have they missed this one? Cancelo puts in a beautiful inswinger from the right. Fernandes tries to get on the end of it but misses. Then Ronaldo arrives but is somehow a whisker from meeting it. Had he got a touch it would have been a certain goal. Instead it’s a goal kick.
MacPhee watch
Friday 3 July 2026 00:28 , Richard Jolly in Toronto
Portugal's long-haired set-piece coach Austin MacPhee looks like a member of Iron Maiden who is going to play tennis.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:27 , Alan Smith
27’ - We’re underway again.
Two men in their 40s not moving much
Friday 3 July 2026 00:26 , Richard Jolly in Toronto
Another hydration break is booed. It isn't necessary today - much of the pitch is in shade, there is a breeze coming in from the lake and two men in their forties haven't moved much.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:24 , Alan Smith
23’ - Pongracic does fantastically well to cut out a Mendes cross that appeared destined for Neto to bundled in from three yards. Mendes then takes the ensuring corner and Neves cannot meet it cleanly.
And that signals the advertising break. There are some boos but it was apparently sweltering earlier on in Toronto, according to the BBC commentary.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:20 , Alan Smith
21’ - It’s beginning to look like Croatia have successfully weathered the early storm. Portugal are a little less intense and Leao has stopped enjoying the freedom of the left flank.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:17 , Alan Smith
17’ - Dias is harshly booked for colliding with Budimir. It is hardly a foul, a 50/50 collision in which the Portugal defender’s arms appears to accidentally meet the Croatia forward.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:16 , Alan Smith
16’ - Dias sends a pass over the top towards Neto and Perisic gives away a corner. Mendes whips it in and Veiga rises to meet it ... but he heads it too hard and a great chance passes Portugal by.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:13 , Alan Smith
12’ - Leao is tripped by Stanisic and Portugal have a free kick in Ronaldo range. The forward’s strike hits Pongracic exactly where you do not want to be hit.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:11 , Alan Smith
10’ - Croatia get forward down their right, Sucic crosses to Budimir but his header is off target.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:09 , Richard Jolly in Toronto
All Portugal at the moment. They have a threat on either flank. Croatia aren't pressing them - and perhaps they were never going to - but they feel a but too passive.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:09 , Alan Smith
9’ - Portugal are on a mission. Neto floats a cross in for Ronaldo but a combination of Livakovic’s missed attempt to punch and a Sutalo leap puts him off and the ball goes out for a goal kick.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:07 , Alan Smith
7’ - More good work from Leao brings a corner. His cross tries to find Ronaldo but Sutalo gets a head to it and then Livakovic puts it out of play. From the dead ball Croatia half clear it to Cancelo just outside the box. His half volley is well over.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:05 , Alan Smith
4’ - Fernandes has two shots thwarted in succession! The first is saved well by Livakovic, the second one leads to a VAR check for handball that is not given but we’re yet to see a replay. It all came from a nice cross by Leao after he got in behind on the left side.
Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:03 , Alan Smith
3’ - Budimir hits the first shot, a low drag that is easy for Costa after Vlasic centred.
Kick-off! Portugal 0-0 Croatia
Friday 3 July 2026 00:00 , Alan Smith
1’ - Croatia, in all blue, kick off. Portugal are also in their change strip of green and white. What daftness.
Tonight's referee
Thursday 2 July 2026 23:59 , Alan Smith
Espen Eskas from Norway takes charge of this one.
Almost time
Thursday 2 July 2026 23:55 , Alan Smith
Here we go then. The teams are out, the anthems are being sung and we’re not far from a rather fascinating tie getting underway.
Kick-off looms! Get ready
Thursday 2 July 2026 23:48 , Alex Pattle
The players are about to make their way onto the pitch. Don’t go anywhere.
This one should be FASCINATING.
Just my opinion, but I have a feeling penalties may loom this evening...
All World Cup last-16 ties at the time of writing
Thursday 2 July 2026 23:43 , Alex Pattle
Canada v Morocco
Paraguay v France
Brazil v Norway
Mexico v England
USA v Belgium
Portugal/Croatia v Spain
Who will the winners face?
Thursday 2 July 2026 23:38 , Alex Pattle
The winners will play the victors between Spain, with that eventual last-16 game taking place on Monday 6 July in Dallas, at 8pm BST.
More on the 'great' Messi vs Ronaldo debate
Thursday 2 July 2026 23:33 , Alex Pattle
Cheers and boos for Ronaldo
Thursday 2 July 2026 23:32 , Richard Jolly in Toronto
It's hot in Toronto, but not oppressively; or so says someone who doesn't have to run around for 90 minutes (admittedly, neither does Ronaldo). Portugal are warming up and, when their names were announced, there were both cheers and boos for their captain, the boos from the Croatians.
Messi vs Ronaldo? The debate was always absurd
Thursday 2 July 2026 23:27 , Miguel Delaney
To think that this greatest of tournaments used to just mean pain and disappointment for Messi. He has admitted he used to wake up in the middle of the night dwelling on the defeated final of 2014.
Now, he’s fulfilling every dream, every expectation from all that young talent.
Messi is not just the player with the most appearances at the World Cup but now its all-time top scorer, and he may yet end up with a third tournament golden ball, a first golden boot and maybe - just maybe - a second winners medal.
He stands alone, in so many ways.
If the debate with Cristiano Ronaldo was always absurd, given that there was never really any debate at all, Messi is ensuring it was just a quirk of history.
The contrast does say something else, though:
Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo? The debate was always absurd
Which veteran goes home?
Thursday 2 July 2026 23:25 , Richard Jolly in Toronto
Two forty-somethings with 200 caps apiece. For either Cristiano Ronaldo or Luka Modric, this could be a final World Cup game. Long-time teammates at Real Madrid will captain their countries here. Croatia have been great overachievers in World Cups in Modric's time, Portugal underachievers in Ronaldo's. Who goes home now?
How a thrilling stalemate between Colombia and Portugal set up two fascinating knockout ties
Thursday 2 July 2026 23:20 , Alex Pattle
Here’s how Portugal ended up with this daunting Croatia test, while Colombia topped the group to draw Ghana in the last 32.
It was a 0-0 draw between Portugal and Colombia, but the scoreline belies the thrilling nature of that final group game.
How a thrilling stalemate set up fascinating World Cup knockout ties
The Croatia player showing Ronaldo what he’s missing – with time running out
Thursday 2 July 2026 23:10 , Richard Jolly in Toronto
If life is supposed to begin at 40, a World Cup life should end in the fifth decade. History will be made by two who could soon be part of it.
The 23rd World Cup features a pair born before the 13th edition. For the first time in the history of the competition, there is a derby of the 40-somethings as Portugal meet Croatia.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric, each born in 1985, both among the seven players with the most World Cup appearances ever, serial Champions League winners together, have a reunion where one faces a finish.
In Modric’s case, it will be definitive. “This is his last World Cup, and he is doing his best to say ‘goodbye’ to the tournament,” said Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic.
As for Ronaldo, is it beyond the realms of possibility that he sets his sights on a World Cup that Portugal will co-host in 2030? The record scorer in the history of international football seemed to have played his last World Cup game four years ago. Ronaldo’s bid to defy the ageing process has taken him to the United States and, now, Canada, despite the evidence it should not.
The Croatia player showing Cristiano Ronaldo just what he’s missing
Portugal v Croatia – group-stage results
Thursday 2 July 2026 23:00 , Alex Pattle
Portugal
1-1 v DR Congo
5-0 v Uzbekistan
0-0 v Colombia
Croatia
2-4 v England
1-0 v Panama
2-1 v Ghana
Yet more history
Thursday 2 July 2026 22:50 , Alan Smith
41 - Cristiano Ronaldo é o primeiro jogador da história a disputar uma partida de mata-mata de Copa do Mundo aos 41 anos de idade.
— OptaJoao (@OptaJoao) July 2, 2026
Dedicação. pic.twitter.com/qGTKM5u5xN
Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website
