Portugal’s Emotional Victory Over Croatia in World Cup

On July 2, 2026, Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal triumphed over Croatia with a 2-1 victory in the Round of 32 of the FIFA men’s World Cup. The match, held on Thursday, marked an important milestone beyond progressing to the Round of 16.

The final whistle blew just as the date changed to July 3 in Portugal, marking one year since the tragic car crash that claimed the lives of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva. Diogo Jota, remembered for making 49 appearances and scoring 14 goals for the Portugal national team, had also been a star player for Liverpool. After the match, Portugal honored Jota’s memory with a ceremony where Ronaldo donned Jota’s No. 21 jersey, visibly moved by the tribute.

“We won for us, Diogo, and Portugal!!!” Ronaldo captioned a team photo on Instagram, expressing the team’s dedication to Jota’s memory.

Ronaldo revealed to FOX Sports’ Katie Shanahan that the team intended to honor Jota’s memory. “It was a special moment,” he said. The team had discussed this poignant coincidence before the game, emphasizing the day’s significance. “Not only did we win the game, but also the way we did.”

Croatia initially took the lead with Ivan Perišić scoring in the 53rd minute. Ronaldo equalized with a penalty kick in the 68th minute. Gonçalo Ramos then scored a decisive goal in extra time, heading in a cross to give Portugal a 2-1 lead. Croatia seemed to equalize just before the final whistle, but the goal was disallowed after a VAR review confirmed an offside.

Ronaldo’s goal marked his third in this World Cup and was the first in the knockout stages of his career. He remains the only male player to score in six different World Cups. Ronaldo and Argentina’s Lionel Messi also share the unique record of appearing in six World Cup tournaments. Portugal is set to face Spain in the Round of 16 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Monday, July 6.