VAR denies Croatia's game-tying goal as Cristiano Ronaldo leads Portugal to Round of 16

Croatia thought their FIFA World Cup hopes were still live erstwhile they scored nan game-tying extremity conscionable earlier nan extremity of stoppage clip successful nan 2nd half.

But a VAR reappraisal said Mario Pasalic was offside, and it was Portugal moving connected instead.

Gonçalo Ramos’ extremity conscionable minutes earlier — a beautiful header into nan backmost of nan nett successful nan 94th infinitesimal — was nan decider successful this 2-1 triumph for Portugal. And it was only nan 2nd clip successful Portuguese World Cup history nan federation needed to travel from down to win, underscoring its resilience connected nan sport's biggest stage.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Luka Modric of Croatia and teammates respond aft nan 1-2 nonaccomplishment during nan FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 lucifer betwixt Portugal and Croatia astatine Toronto Stadium connected July 2, 2026 successful Toronto, Ontario. (Patrick Smith - FIFA)

It was a arguable ending, though, and 1 wherever Croatia tried to reason nan shot ne'er deed nan caput of Igor Matanovic, which made Pasalic offside during VAR review.

It’s besides worthy noting that a caller spot wrong nan shot shows erstwhile it is touched, giving much actual grounds to nan referee’s last determination successful specified a important clip of nan match. This was nan 10th extremity overruled by VAR frankincense acold successful nan World Cup.

GABRIEL MARTINELLI'S 96TH-MINUTE GOAL RESCUES BRAZIL FROM JAPAN UPSET IN WORLD CUP ROUND OF 32

So, pinch nan extremity annulled, Croatia’s clip astatine nan tourney has ended. As a result, Croatian fable Luka Modrić is finishing his 5th World Cup, which will apt beryllium nan 40-year-old midfielder’s last one.

But different older fable connected nan transportation will move on, arsenic Cristiano Ronaldo made immoderate World Cup history during this match.

When No. 7 stepped ft connected nan transportation and nan shot was kicked, he became nan oldest subordinate to participate successful a knockout shape lucifer astatine nan World Cup astatine 41 years and 147 days old. He besides became nan oldest subordinate to people successful a knockout shape lucifer erstwhile he saw a punishment business while Portugal was down 1-0 successful nan match.

Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal celebrates aft scoring his team’s first extremity during nan FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 lucifer betwixt Portugal and Croatia astatine Toronto Stadium connected July 2, 2026 successful Toronto, Ontario. (Patrick Smith - FIFA)

Ivan Perisic sewage nan first extremity of this crippled and put Portugal’s backmost against nan wall. But aft a foul was committed wrong Croatia’s container successful nan 67th minute, it was clip for Ronaldo to get his first profession knockout goal, and he didn’t disappoint.

Ronaldo was ecstatic, sprinting toward nan area emblem and performing his signature "SIU!" celebration, which nan crowd bellowed pinch nan people astatine 1-1. Ronaldo had besides seemed to get that first knockout extremity conscionable minutes earlier but he was called offside.

Modrić and Ronaldo, 2 erstwhile teammates connected Real Madrid, besides made history together, arsenic they were nan first 2 players 40 years aliases older to play successful nan aforesaid lucifer together.

Luka Modric of Croatia congratulates Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal aft nan 2-1 triumph during nan FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 lucifer betwixt Portugal and Croatia astatine Toronto Stadium connected July 2, 2026 successful Toronto, Ontario. (Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

It was besides an affectional infinitesimal aft nan match, arsenic Ronaldo wore nan jersey of precocious Portugal teammate Diogo Jota, who died successful a car mishap a twelvemonth ago. A squad photograph was taken connected nan pitch, pinch Ronaldo holding up Jota's jersey alongside his squad.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Now that nan occupation is done successful nan Round of 32 for Portugal, they look a large situation against a cardinal rival successful nan Round of 16.

Spain, who dominated Austria pinch a 3-0 decorativeness earlier connected Thursday, awaits Portugal astatine Dallas Stadium connected July 6 astatine 3 p.m. ET.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X and subscribe to nan Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.