Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup dream was kept alive in controversial fashion as he helped his Portugal side beat Croatia 2-1 and secure a last-16 tie with Spain.

The goal was disallowed when Igor Matanovic touched Ivan Perisic’s cross, with assistant Mario Pasalic ruling offside despite the ball deflecting off Portugal’s Renato Veiger. Following a recommendation by Premier League referee Jared Gillett for an on-field check, on-pitch official Espen Eskas decided to disallow the goal.

What was essentially the last kick of the game capped off a whirlwind second half that had seen Croatia take the lead through Perisic. Cristiano Ronaldo, who was rumored before the game to be preparing to retire from international duty in the defeat, equalized from the penalty spot. That goal being the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s first-ever in the knockout stages of the World Cup.

Although 41-year-old Roberto Martinez later leveled the game, despite his disappointment, Ronaldo could look on with joy as Goncalo Ramos saw off a superb Rafael Leau cross in added time.

While there was joy for an experienced player in Ronaldo, the opposite was true for Croatia captain Luka Modric, the 40-year-old playing in possibly his last World Cup. Marking the first anniversary of Diogo Jota’s tragic pass with a win, Portugal now look forward to a replay of the 2025 Nations League final, where Ronaldo’s side triumphed over European champions Spain.

Highlights from Toronto…

4: Shot! Portugal’s only effort of the first half came four minutes in when Livakovic denied Fernandes early on.

53: Goal! Perisic fired in the opening goal after a strong start to the second half.

Vlasic puts the ball in, but the linesman’s flag is raised immediately. Stanisic was just offside as he played on the right.

58: Leo cuts the bar with a howitzer! So close.

61: Ronaldo denied an equalizer! Ronaldo scored but the linesman’s flag cut short the celebrations. The decision stands despite the VAR check.

Roberto Martinez made four changes. Fernandes, Neto, Vitinha and Cancelo have all been introduced, with Semedo, Silva, Conceicao and Ramos all introduced.

66: After a review, a penalty was awarded after Veiga was pulled down in the area by Vlasic.

68: Goal! Ronaldo calmly put away his first knockout goal at the World Cup.

75: wow Costa gets down to a Kovacic shot from the edge of the area to turn it onto the post. It quickly comes back to Kovacic to strike again but Costa keeps it out again.

80: Sucic is the latest player to be denied an equalizer by an offside flag.

82: The introduction of Ruben Neves in his place.

90: 10 minutes are added.

90+4: Goal! Ramos saw a Leo cross to put Portugal in front.

Goal! Geverdiol scored from the bench to send the game into extra time.

Unauthorized! Guardiol’s goal was disallowed for offside after a VAR check.

Analysis: Ronaldo is not the whole problem

The problem is really Ronaldo? Much of the talk, just as it has been throughout his 20-year career, is about Cristiano Ronaldo. This will not change for the duration of the tournament, but there is little emphasis on his supposed ‘golden generation’ teammates who have failed to deliver. The midfield that was raved about in the build-up to the tournament struggles to dictate play.

It’s a treble of players that includes a Podium Ballon d’Or star in Vitinha, a Champions League winner in Joao Neves and Premier League Player of the Season in Bruno Fernandes. All three crumbled under pressure in the win over Uzbekistan.

The talk ahead of Portugal’s clash with Spain will be whether Gonzalo Ramos will start in Ronaldo’s place. Although the discussion would be fair, Ronaldo actually delivered with his penalty. Two of the aforementioned three midfield trio were held back, allowing Portugal to play more fluidly.

Ramos: I love these moments

Portugal ahead Goncalo Ramos:

“It’s hard because it’s a game if you don’t win, you go home. But for me, especially, I love moments like this, I love games like this, I want to play every game like this, I want to be in the big moments.”