Key takeaways
- Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 in a dramatic Round of 32 tie on 2 July.
- Perišić put Croatia ahead, Cristiano Ronaldo levelled from the penalty spot, and Gonçalo Ramos headed a 94th-minute winner.
- Croatia thought they had equalised in stoppage time, but Mario Pašalić was ruled offside by VAR.
- Portugal now face Spain in a heavyweight Round of 16 clash on Monday.
Portugal are through to the last 16 of World Cup 2026 — but only just. In a nerve-shredding Round of 32 tie on 2 July, Roberto Martínez’s side came from behind to beat Croatia 2-1, with substitute Gonçalo Ramos heading a 94th-minute winner before a VAR call spared them a stoppage-time scare.
New to the knockouts? Get grounded with our World Cup 2026 betting guide and the knockout bracket betting breakdown.
From behind to a stoppage-time winner
Croatia struck first through Ivan Perišić just after the hour mark, the veteran again showing up on the big stage. Portugal’s response came from the man who always seems to find one: Cristiano Ronaldo levelled from the penalty spot on 68 minutes to drag his side back into it.
With extra time looming, Ramos rose highest to power in a Rafael Leão cross deep into stoppage time, sending the Portuguese bench into raptures. Croatia thought they had struck straight back to force a 2-2 draw, but Mario Pašalić was flagged offside and VAR confirmed the goal would not stand. Portugal survived.
A Ronaldo penalty, a substitute’s header and a VAR reprieve — Portugal’s knockout run rides its luck.
Reading the result for bettors
Portugal have the firepower to beat anyone, but this was a reminder that their defence can be got at — Croatia carved out enough to lead and nearly to level again. That two-way profile matters when you price their deeper outright winner odds: a side that wins tight games is thrilling to watch and dangerous to back blind.
The betting takeaway is discipline. A dramatic late win inflates the emotion around a team, and markets know it — Portugal’s next prices will carry a “narrative tax”. Convert any odds into an implied probability before betting; our football betting odds guide walks you through it.
For the Golden Boot race, Ronaldo’s penalty keeps him ticking over, while spot-kick duty is exactly the kind of edge that quietly pads a top-scorer bet across a tournament.
Next up: Spain in the last 16
The prize is a blockbuster Round of 16 tie against Spain on Monday, after the European champions dispatched Austria 3-0 without conceding — see Oyarzabal’s double sends Spain through. Spain’s clean-sheet run against Portugal’s knack for late drama is a genuinely tasty matchup for the bracket markets.
Weigh the angles before you commit:
- Match winner — Spain haven’t conceded all tournament; Portugal keep finding goals late. Expect a tight, well-priced market.
- Both teams to score — Portugal’s attack argues yes, but Spain’s defence argues no. That tension is where the value hides — or the trap.
- Anytime scorer — Ronaldo and Ramos are obvious names, but knockout ties against elite defences rarely reward short scorer prices.
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Bet it sensibly
Late winners and VAR drama make for unforgettable nights — and for overheated markets the morning after. Back the numbers that beat the true chance, not the adrenaline, and keep every stake inside a budget you set in advance. If betting ever stops being fun, our responsible gambling resources are there to help. 18+.
Frequently asked questions
What was the score in Portugal vs Croatia?
Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 in the World Cup 2026 Round of 32 on 2 July 2026. Ivan Perišić scored for Croatia, Cristiano Ronaldo equalised from a penalty, and Gonçalo Ramos headed a 94th-minute winner.
Why was Croatia's late goal disallowed?
Croatia appeared to level at 2-2 in stoppage time, but Mario Pašalić was flagged offside and VAR confirmed the decision, so the goal did not stand and Portugal held on to win 2-1.
