FIFA World Cup 2026: Cristiano Ronaldo ties game at 1-1 as Portugal takes on Croatia

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Chants of "Portugal! Portugal! Portugal!" resonate as that play that led to the penalty was reviewed.

Then came a huge roar as the penalty was awarded.

Ronaldo to take.

Portugal’s fans on their feet.

Goal! 

Ronaldo converts the penalty to tie the game!

The penalty was called after VAR advised the referee to check a potential foul in the Croatian box.

Ronaldo gets the first World Cup knockout round goal in his illustrious career.

This game has opened up like crazy. 

Portugal came within inches of scoring. Back comes Croatia. 

The fans are at full blast now, with every play prompting a fresh wave of cheers or jeers.

Maybe if Ronaldo had styled his hair differently he would have stayed onside and that goal would have stood. That was so, so close.

Ronaldo got on the end of a forward pass and directed a shot past the goalkeeper, but the linesman called it back for offside.

The replays show it is very close, but VAR reaffirms the decision.

Replays show he was off by a shoulder. That's so close!

Croatia looks like it's broken through again, but the flag goes up after the goal to call it back for offside!

The Croatian fans have been brought to life by this passage of play. 

A couple of minutes later, Portugal strikes the woodwork with a long-range shot, before Costa is called into action with a big save.

The game has really opened up in the second half!

Drinks go flying in the air and the Croatian fans are jumping with joy on the south end.

Ronaldo flings his arms up at his team at kickoff. The pressure is really on now. Level this up, or his World Cup career may end in Toronto.

Against the run of play, Croatia opens the scoring through Ivan Perišić!

For all the talk about veterans in the buildup, Perišić shows you can never forget about him! 

The Croatian vice-captain was waiting at the back post, and after taking a couple of touches to settle the ball, he slides it right underneath Diogo Costa for the game's first goal.

Perišić has now scored in every World Cup since 2014. It's Croatia, after hanging on in the first half, that has the lead!

A contingent of Croats think Mateo Kovačić has scored, as he suddenly has a clear look at the Portuguese goal! But it deflects off a Portuguese player and into the side-netting. 

Croatia gets a shot off its first corner of the game, but it rolls wide of the goal.

Cristiano Ronaldo and João Neves get things going again in Toronto.

Croatia's Igor Matanović comes on for Ante Budimir in the only substitution at halftime.

Nuno Mendes immediately has an early chance for Portugal as he breaks in on Croatia's goal from the left side, but his pass is cleared. He really should have shot!

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