Cristiano Ronaldo fights back tears in Diogo Jota tribute after shock career first in controversial World Cup win

Cristiano Ronaldo cut an emotional figure at full-time after helping Portugal to the World Cup round of 32 with a frantic win over Crotia.

Portugal fought back from 1-0 down to beat Croatia 2-1 in an enthralling end-to-end encounter in Toronto.

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Prior to the round of 32 match, Ronaldo’s sister dropped a bombshell revelation by saying the 41-year-old would retire from international duty after the competition.

And Ronaldo‘s World Cup almost came to a premature end after ex-Tottenham star Ivan Perisic broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner then thought he had equalised shortly after with a delicate chip over goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic – only to adjudged to be offside.

But he managed to haul the Euro 2016 winners level in the 68th minute from the penalty spot.

Substitute Goncalo Ramos then headed in the winner, although Croatia thought they’d taken the game to extra time with a last-gasp equaliser, only for it to be disallowed for the most marginal offside calls by VAR.

The match was briefly stopped after a number of plastic cups were thrown onto the field by furious Croatia fans.

Veteran 158-cap Croatia international Perisic was forced to go over to the fans and tell them to calm down.

Tribute to Jota

Portugal and Ronaldo’s joy at edging to the win turned to sorrow shortly after the full-time whistle as the team remembered the passing of Jota, who tragically died in a car accident with his brother Andre Silva in Spain exactly one year ago.

Ronaldo led the tributes by wearing a Portugal home shirt with the no.21 on the back, which was worn by Jota for the national team.

After applauding Portugal supporters in the ground, an emotional Ronaldo pointed to the sky in a touching moment.

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Ron-believable

In scoring, Ronaldo has finally netted his first World Cup knockout goal since making his tournament debut in 2006.

Ronaldo couldn’t get on the score sheet from his three knockout ties when Portugal made it to the semi-finals in Germany 20 years ago.

He then drew a blank in the last-16 defeat to Spain four years later, with Portugal going out in the group stages in 2014.

Portugal again were dumped out in the last-16 in 2018 – losing 2-1 to Uruguay – with Ronaldo then failing to find the back of the net in his two knockout matches in Qatar.

Ronaldo, who now has three World Cup goals in 2026 – 11 in total from throughout his career – then cut a dejected figure after being hauled off in the 81st minute.

But Portugal didn’t miss him, with Goncalo Ramos completing the comeback with a stunning header in the third minute of stoppage time.

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It came just moments after Croatia thought they had taken the lead through Nikolas Vlasic, only for the offside flag to go up.

However the drama wasn’t done there, with Croatia believing they had got back on level terms in the 13th minute of stoppage time.

Josko Gvardiol stabbed the ball home, but Croatia was cruelly denied for offside in the build-up – sparking uproar from the fans in attendance.

Croatia midfielder Mateo Kovacic was in tears following the full-time whistle.

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But for Portugal, they will be counting their lucky stars as their dream of a first World Cup triumph continues.

Spain now stand in their way of a place in the quarter-finals.

More to follow…