cristiano ronaldo He celebrated with Portuguese fans outside the team hotel after helping Portugal to a dramatic 2-1 victory over Croatia in the last 32 of the 2026 World Cup.Goncalo Ramos scored the winner in a thrilling stoppage time to seal Portugal’s place in the last 16, a game that also saw a controversial VAR decision that led to Croatia’s late equalizer.The match was billed as a showdown between two football legends in the twilight years of their careers – the 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo and the 40-year-old. Luke Modric. The two former Real Madrid team-mates shared a warm embrace before kick-off and again after the final whistle.Ronaldo was spotted outside the Portugal team hotel after the result as he celebrated victory over the 2018 World Cup finalist.watch:Croatia took the lead in the 53rd minute through Ivan Perisic, but Ronaldo responded to a penalty kick in the 68th minute to score his first goal in the knockout stages of the World Cup, but was substituted in the 81st minute.“We dominated the game in the first half. We panicked a little bit after the goal in the second half, but that’s football,” Ronaldo said. “After the penalty I thought it was a little better for us. We created some chances and I think in the end we should have won the game.”Portugal looked destined for extra time but Goncalo Ramos scored with a header in injury time. However, the drama doesn’t end there.Croatia believed they had equalized late on when Josko Gvardiol scored, but VAR ruled the goal out for offside after a lengthy review. The decision sparked outrage among Croatian supporters, with some throwing bottles onto the pitch in protest.Ronaldo and Modric share emotional momentThe game also has emotional significance, with both Ronaldo and Modric potentially playing in their final World Cup. The pair, who enjoyed great success together at Real Madrid, embraced after the game.“I played with Luka for many years,” Ronaldo said. “We’re about the same age. I think he’s a football legend. He’s still a football legend.”
