Rafael Leão dropped to his knees. His cross had just been flicked into the net by Gonçalo Ramos to take Portugal to the last 16 of the World Cup. Leão’s expression was not one of delight, but relief. The goal came in added time, capping a match stuffed with incident – including, for the first time in World Cup history, a total of four disallowed goals, one of them denying Croatia an equaliser in the very last second.
Billed as the last dance for two footballing icons, it was Luka Modrić who, at the age of 40, had to leave what will surely be his final World Cup. Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, plays on. The 41-year-old had played every second of the tournament until Roberto Martinez decided to replace him during the 81st minute. Ronaldo pulled his face and paused before obliging, showing more than a hint of frustration. He had already scored his first-ever World Cup knockout goal, a penalty to equalise after Ivan Perisic had given Croatia the lead, and earlier saw a goal ruled out for offside. But with less than 10 minutes of normal time remaining, Martinez decided a winner would be found elsewhere and sent on Ruben Neves.
“Gonçalo Ramos's added-time winner sent Portugal into the last 16 after a VAR-heavy match saw four disallowed goals.”
"Look at his face," said Matt Upson on BBC Radio 5 Live. "Straight away, the shake of the head and the disappointment. He couldn't hide it. I think Martinez has made a sensible call to keep Portugal fresh and in the game." Commentator Stephen Warnock agreed: "Cristiano Ronaldo is not happy. He is not happy at all. Take the name out of it, it is the right decision. Cristiano Ronaldo hasn't affected the game enough. Yes, he scored the penalty. The link-up play, the pressing, it is not there from him. For the good of the team, that is what Roberto Martinez has to think about. You have got to put your ego aside and think of the bigger picture."
After a sweltering day in Toronto, the evening brought welcome cool and the atmosphere inside the stadium was voluble throughout. The first half was dominated by Portugal, who should have taken a lead into the break. Leão barrelled down the left and cut back low to Bruno Fernandes, whose two shots were saved and blocked. Pedro Neto was Portugal’s most persistent threat, whipping crosses into the box that went unfinished. Croatia stood up confidently and had a plan to isolate Martin Baturina against João Cancelo.
Ronaldo could only watch from the bench as Ramos’s winner secured victory. His expression was one of joy as Portugal qualified, where they will face Spain. He also paid tribute to the late Diogo Jota, donning a shirt with his number during the team’s full-time celebrations. Theo Walcott said it was the right decision for Ronaldo to be replaced, admitting he was not convinced at the time: "Cristiano Ronaldo had his moment and we had this debate, thinking about taking him off just before he had the goal offside and I was like 'you can't take him off'. I think it was the right decision in the end, it really was, even his response and these are beautiful scenes."
Ronaldo was bewilderingly named player of the match, but this was a contest about more than two individuals. It was an old-fashioned World Cup battle, with momentum swinging first one way then the other then back again.