First Half Action in Toronto
The World Cup 2026 last 32 fixture between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto saw an active first half with both teams creating opportunities. Early in the match, Portugal had a significant chance, which led to a brief VAR check before play resumed. Bruno Fernandes was involved in a double chance for Portugal, with a shot from an acute angle and a subsequent rebound. Later, a cross from João Cancelo nearly resulted in a goal, with both Cristiano Ronaldo and Fernandes in proximity.
Croatia also had moments, with Luka Modrić attempting to initiate a break after Dominik Livaković collected a cross. However, the pass did not connect precisely. Portugal maintained possession for extended periods, working the ball effectively despite Croatia deploying numerous players into their penalty area to defend.
The game featured several fouls, though not all were called. Mateo Kovačić was penalised for catching Nuno Mendes on the foot after the ball was gone, leading to a free-kick for Portugal from approximately 28 yards out. Josip Pongračić was forced to concede a corner after an errant header facing his own goal, and later headed another ball out for a corner instead of a throw-in.
Veteran Presence on the Pitch
The match highlighted the presence of two veteran players, Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal and Luka Modrić for Croatia, both born in 1985. This marks a unique occurrence in the tournament’s history, featuring two players from the same birth year who have made numerous World Cup appearances. Modrić‘s manager, Zlatko Dalić, indicated that this is likely Modrić‘s final World Cup appearance.
Both players have a history of success, including multiple Champions League titles together during their time at Real Madrid. Ronaldo holds the record for international goals and recently became the first player to score in six World Cups, achieving a brace against Uzbekistan. However, none of his 145 international goals have come in a World Cup knockout match.
Modrić, a Golden Ball winner in 2018 and third finest in 2022, has had an extraordinary career, helping Croatia reach the final in 2018 and finish third in 2022. His journey in this tournament saw a challenging start, including conceding a penalty against England, but he later contributed significantly with an 83rd-minute corner that led to a goal against Ghana.
Path to the Knockouts
Portugal‘s path to the knockout stage involved some struggles to score, which led them to this meeting as runners-up in their group. Their group stage included a draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo and another stalemate with Colombia. Croatia, known for being slow starters in tournaments, battled through their group, finishing second after being fourth in Group L after one game and third after two.
The two players, Ronaldo and Modrić, have shared the pitch in 232 matches, with 222 of those for Real Madrid and 10 as opponents. Despite their extensive careers, they have never faced each other in a World Cup match. Historically, Modrić has not been on the winning side when playing against Ronaldo, a statistic that could influence the outcome of this crucial World Cup 2026 encounter.
The match in Toronto continues to unfold, with both teams vying for advancement in the tournament.
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Source: theguardian.com
As Latest News UK's Sports Reporter, Hannah Whitfield reports on tennis, cricket and athletics for readers across the country. She built her name covering the county circuit and Team GB at two Commonwealth Games. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from Loughborough University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Hannah lives in Bristol, where she plays club tennis and coaches a junior side. “Sport is at its best when you let the athletes tell the story.”