Croatia briefly believed their FIFA World Cup journey would continue, celebrating a game-tying goal just before the final whistle in the second half's stoppage time. However, a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review ultimately ruled Mario Pasalic offside, paving the way for Portugal's progression instead.
Gonçalo Ramos's decisive header into the net in the 94th minute secured Portugal's 2-1 win. This comeback victory marked only the second time in the nation's World Cup history that Portugal had to recover from a deficit to clinch a win, underscoring their resilience on football's grandest stage.
Controversial VAR Call Ends Croatian Hopes
The match concluded with a contentious ruling. Croatia contested the VAR decision, arguing that the ball never truly made contact with Igor Matanovic's head, which was a crucial factor in Pasalic being deemed offside. Notably, a new embedded chip within the ball provides precise data on touches, offering more concrete evidence for the referee's final judgment during such critical moments of a game. This incident marked the tenth goal overturned by VAR in the current World Cup tournament.
With the equalizer annulled, Croatia's participation in the tournament concluded. Consequently, Croatian football legend Luka Modrić is likely ending his fifth World Cup appearance, which is widely anticipated to be the 40-year-old midfielder's final one.
Ronaldo Rewrites Record Books
While Modrić's World Cup chapter closed, another seasoned legend, Cristiano Ronaldo, continued his journey, achieving several historical milestones during the match. As the iconic No. 7 stepped onto the pitch and the game commenced, he became the oldest player to participate in a World Cup knockout stage match at 41 years and 147 days old. He further etched his name in the record books by becoming the oldest player to score in a knockout stage match, converting a penalty when Portugal was trailing 1-0.
Ivan Perisic had initially put Croatia ahead, placing Portugal under pressure. However, after a foul was committed inside Croatia's penalty area in the 67th minute, Ronaldo seized the opportunity to score his first career knockout goal, delivering a powerful strike. Ronaldo celebrated with unbridled enthusiasm, sprinting towards the corner flag to perform his signature "SIU!" celebration, which was met with a resounding roar from the crowd as the score leveled at 1-1. Earlier in the match, Ronaldo had also seemingly scored, but that attempt was disallowed due to an offside call.
Legends Share the Pitch
In a unique historical moment, Modrić and Ronaldo, former teammates at Real Madrid, became the first two players aged 40 or older to play together in the same World Cup fixture.
An Emotional Tribute and Next Challenge
Following the match, an emotional scene unfolded on the pitch as Ronaldo wore the jersey of his late Portugal teammate Diogo Jota, who had tragically passed away in a car accident a year prior. A team photograph captured Ronaldo holding Jota's shirt alongside his victorious squad.
Having successfully navigated the Round of 32, Portugal now prepares for a significant challenge against a key rival in the Round of 16. Spain, who secured their spot earlier on Thursday with a dominant 3-0 victory over Austria, awaits Portugal at Dallas Stadium on July 6 at 3 p.m. ET.
