Ramos injury-time goal sends Portugal to World Cup Round of 16

Goncalo Ramos emerged as Portugal's hero, scoring a dramatic 94th-minute winner to secure a 2-1 victory over Croatia and a spot in the 2026 World Cup's Round of 16. The 25-year-old striker's goal confirmed Portugal's advancement under coach Roberto Martinez, silencing any doubts about the team's ability to score without Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ramos described the pressure of the moment, stating, "It's difficult because if we lose, we go home. But I love moments like these. I want to play in high-pressure games and be in important moments." Portugal initially trailed after Ivan Perisic scored in the 53rd minute, but Ronaldo equalized with a penalty in the 68th. This goal marked a historic achievement for Ronaldo, making him the oldest player to score in a World Cup knockout match and his first goal at this stage of the tournament.

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It's difficult because if we lose, we go home. But I love moments like these. I want to play in high-pressure games and be in important moments.

Croatia's coach, Zlatko Dalic, expressed disappointment with the outcome, feeling his team did not deserve to be eliminated in such a manner. "We don't deserve this kind of ending. It's very difficult to concede at the last moment, but we should have handled the situation better," he said.

The win carried profound significance for Portugal, falling on the eve of the first anniversary of their forward Diogo Jota's death in a road accident. In a touching tribute after the final whistle, Ronaldo was seen wearing Jota's No. 21 jersey, visibly emotional, honoring his former teammate. Portugal is now set to face Spain in the Round of 16 in Dallas, with the winner advancing to play either Belgium or the United States in the quarterfinals.

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We don't deserve this kind of ending. It's very difficult to concede at the last moment, but we should have handled the situation better.