Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first goal of the 2026 North America World Cup, leading Portugal to a dramatic 2-1 victory over Croatia and securing a spot in the Round of 16.
On July 3, in Toronto, Canada, Portugal faced Croatia in the knockout stage of the tournament. Portugal fell behind early when Ivan Perisic scored the opening goal in the 53rd minute. However, Ronaldo equalized with a penalty kick in the 68th minute, bringing the score to 1-1.
This goal marked Ronaldo's first in a World Cup knockout match. Having participated in six consecutive World Cups since 2006, he now has a total of 11 goals in World Cup history.
The match was decided in stoppage time when Gonçalo Ramos, who was substituted in the second half, scored the winning goal with a header from a cross by Rafael Leão. Croatia nearly equalized again just before the final whistle, but a video review ruled the goal offside.
Portugal will face Spain in the quarterfinals on July 7. Meanwhile, Luka Modrić, who is expected to retire from international play after this tournament, concluded his World Cup journey in the Round of 32.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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