Portugal advanced to the World Cup round of 16 with a 2-1 victory over Croatia in Toronto, a match decided in the fourth minute of stoppage time by substitute Gonçalo Ramos. Croatia had taken the lead through Ivan Perišić’s left-footed strike in the 53rd minute, but Cristiano Ronaldo levelled from the penalty spot in the 68th after a VAR review ruled that Renato Veiga was fouled inside the area. With extra time looming, Rafael Leão delivered a cross from the left and Ramos headed the winner. Croatia thought they had forced an additional period moments later when Joško Gvardiol found the net, only for another VAR check to disallow the goal for offside.

The knockout tie fell on the eve of the first anniversary of the death of Diogo Jota, the former Liverpool and Portugal forward who was killed in a car crash in Zamora, Spain, on 3 July 2025 alongside his brother André Silva. Before kick-off, an image of Jota in the number 21 shirt was displayed on the stadium screens during the Portuguese national anthem, and supporters rose to applaud in the 21st minute. Players wore wristbands bearing Jota’s name, a gift from Portugal’s prime minister, and head coach Roberto Martínez had earlier described the late forward as “our sun and our light”, naming him an honorary member of the World Cup squad.

After the final whistle, Ronaldo removed his own number 7 jersey and put on a shirt with Jota’s 21, then walked towards the travelling fans with tears visible. The squad gathered on the pitch for a group photograph with the shirt held aloft. In Portuguese media, the gesture was framed as the culmination of a pact among the players to dedicate the match to their former teammate. Midfielder Rúben Neves, who wears the 21 shirt at the tournament, has spoken publicly about continuing to send messages to Jota via a family WhatsApp group.

Portugal will face Spain in the last 16 at Dallas Stadium on Monday. The meeting carries the weight of a recent Nations League final, which Jota helped Portugal win a month before his death, and now a campaign that Martínez has said the squad wants to end with a World Cup triumph in his memory.