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Ramos sends Portugal into last 16 as VAR drama caps wild finish against Croatia

Portugal advanced to the World Cup last 16 after a dramatic match against Croatia, featuring a controversial VAR call that prolonged Cristiano Ronaldo's tournament while ending Luka Modric's.

By World Brief · 2026-07-03
Ramos sends Portugal into last 16 as VAR drama caps wild finish against Croatia

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Portugal dramatically secured a place in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 after a 2-1 victory over Croatia in a thrilling encounter held in Toronto. The decisive match saw Portugal advance to face Spain in the next stage of the tournament.

The game was marked by late drama, with Cristiano Ronaldo, at 41, converting a penalty in the 68th minute to equalize, marking his first-ever goal in a World Cup knockout stage match and making him the oldest player to achieve this feat. Goncalo Ramos then sealed the win with a stoppage-time header. Croatia thought they had an equalizer moments later, but it was controversially disallowed for offside after a VAR review, cementing Portugal's hard-fought progression.

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