Portugal vs Croatia Player Ratings & Match Stats: Rafael Leão 8.2/10, Ivan Perišić 7.3/10
Mark Strijbosch
Late VAR controversy as Portugal advance to the round of 16 after beating Croatia 2-1 in Toronto! An incredible game for the neutral, a harsh ending for Croatia. It came to life in the second half after Ivan Perisic gave Croatia the lead on the 53rd minute, but a VAR-awarded penalty gave Portugal a lifeline. Cristiano Ronaldo tucked it away on the 68th minute, and it remained 1-1 until injury time. Then, on the 94th minute, Goncalo Ramos put Portugal ahead.
Croatia never gave up and Josko Gvardiol thought he'd equalised on 90+13. 2-2, heading into extra time, or was it? A lengthy VAR check followed, and the goal was controversially ruled out. Was there a touch? This replay will be viewed time and time again today! Portugal will now face Spain in the round of 16.
Player Ratings
Portugal
Player Name | Rating | Description |
Diogo Costa | 7.7 | Outstanding double save denied Kovačić at 76'; kept Portugal in the match. |
João Cancelo | 6.5 | Involved in build-up play but lacked penetration; replaced at 63'. |
Rúben Dias | 7.3 | Anchored defence with key interventions; booked for tactical foul on Budimir. |
Renato Veiga | 6.7 | Drew the crucial penalty but headed unmarked first-half chance over the bar. |
Nuno Mendes | 7.0 | Offered width on the left; crucial recovery denied Modrić a clear run. |
João Neves | 6.8 | Shielded the defence well and won possession in the middle third. |
Vitinha | 6.6 | Controlled build-up with good ball retention; replaced after Croatia's opener. |
Pedro Neto | 6.7 | Provided the pass for Ronaldo's disallowed goal; replaced at 63'. |
Bruno Fernandes | 6.5 | Created early chance with shot saved; follow-up blocked on the line. |
Rafael Leão | 8.2 | Hit crossbar at 58' and delivered the cross for Ramos's decisive header. |
Cristiano Ronaldo | 7.5 | Converted the equalising penalty at 68'; became oldest knockout goalscorer at 41. |
Bernardo Silva | 6.4 | Took the armband after Ronaldo departed; helped maintain late possession. |
Francisco Conceição | 6.3 | Offered direct running from the bench; shot wide late on. |
Nélson Semedo | 6.5 | Provided defensive cover after entering at 63'; solid positionally. |
Gonçalo Ramos | 7.9 | Superb header from Leão's cross won the match at 90+4'. |
Rúben Neves | 6.2 | Limited involvement after late introduction to reinforce midfield at 81'. |
Croatia
Player Name | Rating | Description |
Dominik Livakovic | 6.6 | Early save denied Fernandes; beaten by Ronaldo's penalty and Ramos's header. |
Josip Stanisic | 6.4 | Delivered the cross leading to Perišić's opener; tested by Portugal's left. |
Josip Sutalo | 6.1 | Crucial block on the line at 4' but struggled aerially late on. |
Marin Pongracic | 6.2 | Blocked Ronaldo's early free-kick but beaten in the air for winning goal. |
Ivan Perišić | 7.3 | Composed left-footed finish opened the scoring at 53'; booked late for pushing. |
Mateo Kovacic | 7.0 | Denied by post and double save at 76'; drove forward with energy. |
Luka Modrić | 6.4 | Booked for foul on Vitinha; struggled to dictate against Portugal's press. |
Petar Sučić | 6.7 | Shot saved at 59' and had goal correctly ruled out for offside. |
Nikola Vlašić | 5.7 | Conceded the penalty that allowed Ronaldo to equalise; costly error. |
Martin Baturina | 5.8 | Limited impact before substitution; struggled to find space against Portugal's press. |
Ante Budimir | 5.7 | Early shot saved and header over; replaced at half-time. |
Igor Matanovic | 6.2 | Involved in Perišić's goal; close-range effort well saved by Diogo Costa. |
Mario Pašalić | 6.0 | Headed wide at 79'; offside position contributed to disallowed late goal. |
Josko Gvardiol | 5.4 | Beaten aerially by Ramos for winning goal; had late effort disallowed. |
Andrej Kramaric | 5.7 | Minimal involvement after very late introduction at 90+6'. |
