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

Croatia thought their FIFA World Cup hopes were inactive live erstwhile they scored the game-tying extremity conscionable earlier the extremity of stoppage clip successful the 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 beauteous header into the backmost of the nett successful the 94th infinitesimal — was the decider successful this 2-1 triumph for Portugal. And it was lone the 2nd clip successful Portuguese World Cup past the federation needed to travel from down to win, underscoring its resilience connected the sport's biggest stage.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Luka Modric of Croatia and teammates respond aft the 1-2 nonaccomplishment during the 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 the shot ne'er deed the caput of Igor Matanovic, which made Pasalic offside during VAR review.

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

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

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

But different older fable connected the transportation volition determination on, arsenic Cristiano Ronaldo made immoderate World Cup past during this match.

When No. 7 stepped ft connected the transportation and the shot was kicked, helium became the oldest subordinate to enactment successful a knockout signifier lucifer astatine the World Cup astatine 41 years and 147 days old. He besides became the oldest subordinate to people successful a knockout signifier lucifer erstwhile helium saw a punishment concern portion Portugal was down 1-0 successful the match.

Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal celebrates aft scoring his team’s archetypal extremity during the 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 got the archetypal extremity of this crippled and enactment Portugal’s backmost against the wall. But aft a foul was committed wrong Croatia’s container successful the 67th minute, it was clip for Ronaldo to get his archetypal vocation knockout goal, and helium didn’t disappoint.

Ronaldo was ecstatic, sprinting toward the country emblem and performing his signature "SIU!" celebration, which the assemblage bellowed with the people astatine 1-1. Ronaldo had besides seemed to get that archetypal knockout extremity conscionable minutes earlier but helium was called offside.

Modrić and Ronaldo, 2 erstwhile teammates connected Real Madrid, besides made past together, arsenic they were the archetypal 2 players 40 years oregon older to play successful the aforesaid lucifer together.

Luka Modric of Croatia congratulates Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal aft the 2-1 triumph during the 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 the match, arsenic Ronaldo wore the jersey of precocious Portugal teammate Diogo Jota, who died successful a car mishap a twelvemonth ago. A squad photograph was taken connected the pitch, with Ronaldo holding up Jota's jersey alongside his squad.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

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

Spain, who dominated Austria with 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 the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.