Ronaldo honours Jota as Portugal beat Croatia to reach last 16

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Cristiano Ronaldo paid an emotional tribute to the late Diogo Jota by wearing his former teammate’s No. 21 shirt after Portugal came from behind to defeat Croatia 2-1 and book a FIFA World Cup last-16 clash with Spain.

TORONTO, Canada – Portugal reached the FIFA World Cup round of 16 after defeating Croatia 2-1 in a dramatic knockout match on Thursday, with Cristiano Ronaldo leading an emotional tribute to late teammate Diogo Jota after the final whistle.

The victory secured a heavyweight last-16 meeting against European champions Spain, but the evening was remembered as much for Portugal’s tribute as for its comeback victory. Ronaldo left the pitch wearing Portugal’s No. 21 shirt in honour of Jota, who died in a road accident in Spain a year earlier alongside his brother André Silva.

Portugal had to recover after Croatia took the lead through Ivan Perišić early in the second half. Ronaldo restored parity from the penalty spot in the 68th minute after a VAR review awarded Portugal a spot-kick.

As extra time appeared inevitable, substitute Gonçalo Ramos headed home deep into stoppage time. Croatia briefly believed they had equalised through Joško Gvardiol moments later, but the goal was ruled out for offside after another VAR review, sending Portugal through.

The emotional scenes after the final whistle overshadowed even the dramatic finish. Ronaldo, visibly moved, held up and wore Jota’s No. 21 jersey while acknowledging Portugal supporters, who applauded throughout the tribute.

Cristiano Ronaldo and the entire Portugal squad paid tribute to Diogo Jota, exactly one year after his passing.

Speaking after the match, Ronaldo said the team had discussed the significance of the anniversary before kick-off.

“We knew before the game. It was a very special moment,” he said. “It means a lot to us—not only because we won, but because of the way we won.”

The tribute came almost exactly one year after Jota’s death, which shocked Portuguese football. The Liverpool forward had become one of Portugal’s most dependable attackers, scoring 14 goals in 49 international appearances and helping his country win the UEFA Nations League shortly before his death.

At 41, Ronaldo also added another milestone to his remarkable career. His penalty made him the oldest player to score in a FIFA World Cup knockout match and marked his first-ever goal in a World Cup knockout fixture.

Portugal’s victory also extended Ronaldo’s World Cup career by at least one more match as Roberto Martínez’s side prepares for a high-profile last-16 showdown with Spain in Dallas. Spain reached the knockout tie after defeating Austria 3-0 earlier in the day.

For Croatia, whose squad included veteran captain Luka Modrić, elimination ended another memorable World Cup campaign. The 2018 finalists twice appeared capable of frustrating Portugal but were ultimately undone by late pressure and Ramos’ decisive header.

Portugal will now seek to build on the momentum of a dramatic victory while carrying the memory of one of the country’s most admired footballers into the next stage of the tournament.

Key Match Facts

Portugal

2–1

Croatia

Venue Toronto Stadium, Canada

Portugal scorers Cristiano Ronaldo, 68’ pen; Gonçalo Ramos, 90+

Croatia scorer Ivan Perišić

Next match Portugal vs Spain — Round of 16

Headline moment Ronaldo wore No. 21 in tribute to Diogo Jota

What this means

Portugal remain among the favourites to challenge for the World Cup, but the victory also highlighted the emotional resilience of a squad still mourning Diogo Jota. Ronaldo’s post-match tribute is likely to become one of the defining images of the tournament.