Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated with Portugal fans outside the team hotel after helping his side secure a dramatic 2-1 win over Croatia in the round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.Portugal secured their place in the last 16 after Goncalo Ramos scored the winner in injury time in a thrilling contest that also included a controversial VAR decision that denied Croatia a last-gasp equaliser.The match was announced as a showdown between two football legends at the end of their careers, 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo and 40-year-old Luka Modric. The former Real Madrid teammates embraced warmly before kick-off and again after the final whistle.After the result, Portugal fans outside the team hotel saw Ronaldo, who went outside to celebrate the victory over the 2018 FIFA World Cup finalist.Watch:Croatia took the lead in the 53rd minute through Ivan Perisic, but Ronaldo hit back with a penalty in the 68th minute, scoring his first goal in the knockout stages of the World Cup before being substituted in the 81st minute.“We dominated the game in the first half. In the second half, after the goal, we panicked a bit, but this is football,” Ronaldo said. “After the penalty, I think it was a bit better for us. We created a few chances and I think at the end of the day we deserved to win the game.”Portugal looked destined for extra time before Goncalo Ramos scored the winner in stoppage time. However, the drama did not end there.Croatia believed they had equalized in the final moments when Joško Guardiol hit the net, but VAR ruled the goal for offside after a lengthy review. The decision caused anger among Croatian fans, with some throwing bottles onto the pitch in protest.Ronaldo and Modrić share an emotional momentThe competition also had emotional significance, as both Ronaldo and Modrić could be playing in their last World Cup. The pair, who enjoyed great success together at Real Madrid, embraced after the game.I played with Luca for so many years, Ronaldo said. “We’re almost the same age. I think he’s a football legend. He’s still a football legend.”
