Cristiano Ronaldo scored the first World Cup knockout-stage goal of his career as Portugal edged past Croatia 2-1 in a dramatic round-of-16 encounter on Tuesday. The match took place at Toronto Stadium, where Ronaldo opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Goncalo Ramos secured the win with a stoppage-time header.

The game intensified in extra time when Croatia appeared to have drawn level through Josko Gvardiol in the 103rd minute. However, a video assistant referee (VAR) review determined that the ball had made contact with Igor Matanovic prior to reaching Gvardiol, rendering the goal offside. This decision sparked visible frustration among Croatian supporters, who responded by throwing debris onto the pitch from the stadium’s south end.

Following the late intervention, Ramos expressed his eagerness to maintain his performance level, stating his desire to play every match with the same intensity and be involved in crucial moments.

Portugal’s victory sets up a last-16 meeting against Spain, who advanced with a commanding 3-0 win over Austria in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Switzerland recorded their first knockout-stage triumph in 88 years by defeating Algeria 2-0 in Vancouver, marking a significant milestone for the team.