Some matches had all the ingredients to become unforgettable at the 2026 World Cup, and the match between Portugal and Croatia was one of them, as two of Europe’s strongest national teams battled for a place in the next round, with a thrilling end in which 20 minutes of extra time were played in the second half. Portugal advanced to the Round of 16 after beating Croatia 2-1 with a late goal from Gonçalo Ramos.
In the first half, Portugal were the dominant side, taking risks and creating chances mainly down the left. Neither team was precise before halftime, leaving the score level at 0-0.
A much more epic second half followed, one that did not leave a minute to breathe, with even three disallowed goals for marginal calls. Ivan Perišić was the first to score before Portugal equalized through a penalty by Cristiano Ronaldo in a play where VAR intervened to award it. With Ronaldo already replaced by Ruben Neves, Ramos connected with a great header after a Leão cross in the 93rd minute to put Portugal ahead.
The match was extended further due to added time for celebrations. In a moment that should remain in the books, Joško Gvardiol scored in the 112th before the referee was informed there was an offside due to a barely visible touch from a teammate before Mario Pasalic touched the ball, ending the match.
