Twenty Years in the Making: Ronaldo's First World Cup Knockout Goal Sends Portugal Past Croatia
A 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo became the oldest player to score in a World Cup knockout match on Thursday — his penalty levelled it at 1-1 before Gonçalo Ramos's stoppage-time header broke Croatia's hearts.
⚽ Play today's FootWord while you read — freeTwenty-four years after making his World Cup debut as a teenager, Cristiano Ronaldo scored in the knockout stage of the tournament for the first time. The goal came from the spot in the 68th minute — VAR identified a foul by Nikola Vlasic on Renato Veiga inside the area, and Ronaldo stepped up and buried the penalty into the corner. His 11th World Cup goal in total, and the most historically significant of them all: the first ever in a knockout match, at 41 years old, making him the oldest player to score in the elimination rounds of the tournament.
Croatia had led since the 53rd minute through Ivan Perisic, whose low first-time finish gave the Blazers an advantage that looked threatening to hold. Portugal created but could not find a way through until the VAR intervention changed everything. Croatia's bench was furious with the call; the replays showed clear contact on Veiga.
Ronaldo was replaced by Ruben Neves in the 81st minute as Portugal pushed for the winner they needed. It arrived in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Rafael Leão drove to the byline and whipped in a cross to the back post, where Gonçalo Ramos rose above his marker and powered a header into the net. Portugal 2-1. The bench erupted.
Even then, Croatia found one last moment. Mario Pasalic met a late cross and the ball was in the net — but VAR confirmed an offside in the build-up, and the goal was ruled out. Luka Modric's World Cup is over. Portugal march on to the Round of 16, where they face Spain in a blockbuster Iberian derby.
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