Gonçalo Ramos' 94th-minute goal gives Portugal a 2-1 World Cup win over Croatia after Croatia's late tying goal is ruled out

With Cristiano Ronaldo off the field, Gonçalo Ramos sent Portugal to the World Cup Round of 16. Ramos’ 94th-minute header off a cross from Rafael Leáo gave Portugal a 2-1 win over Croatia on Thursday night. Portugal will play Spain for a spot in the quarterfinals on Monday after Spain beat Austria. AN ABSOLUTELY CLUTCH GOAL FROM PORTUGAL 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/MXvdas9REL — FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 3, 2026 Croatia found the back of the net with the tying goal from Joško Gvardiol in the 103rd minute. However, Mario Pašalić was offside when the ball barely grazed off the head of Igor Matanović. Pašalić then played the ball to Gvardiol after it hardly touched Matanović before going off the head of Portugal’s Renato Veiga. After VAR review, Croatia is ruled offside and the goal is disallowed pic.twitter.com/QOhSueZzrL — FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 3, 2026 The final seconds of the game were then briefly unable to be played after objects were thrown onto the field from fans in the stands. Not only was VAR used to determine that Matanović touched the ball, but all World Cup game balls are equipped with a sensor that can determine when the ball is touched. Ramos entered the game as one of four subs introduced by coach Roberto Martinez an hour into the game. After sitting in a low block for much of the first half, Croatia took the game to Portugal to start the second half, and that resulted in a goal by Ivan Perisic to take the lead. Ronaldo tied the game in the 68th minute after Renato Veiga won a penalty when he was tackled by Marin Pongračić in the penalty box off a corner. The foul wasn’t called on the field, but after a video review determined it was a penalty, there was no doubt as to who would take the penalty kick. SIIUUU! CRISTIANO RONALDO SCORES HIS FIRST CAREER KNOCKOUT STAGE GOAL AT THE FIFA WORLD CUP 🇵🇹 The legendary CR7 brings Portugal level from the spot! pic.twitter.com/BJ80AM0zhg — FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 3, 2026 The goal was Ronaldo’s first in the knockout rounds in his sixth World Cup appearance.