Portugal vs – Portugal and Croatia meet in the World Cup Round of 32 at BMO Field in Toronto with kickoff at 7:00 PM ET, a high-stakes clash that could mark the end of Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup career. Portugal coach Roberto Martinez expects a competitive match against
The night Portugal walks into BMO Field in Toronto, the stakes feel heavier than the bracket suggests. Kickoff is set for 7:00 PM ET in the World Cup Round of 32, where Portugal takes on Croatia in a matchup that pits European pedigree against lived-in experience.
For Portugal. the spotlight is on Cristiano Ronaldo. 41. who is the only player in history to score in six different World Cups. It’s also framed as what could be his final career World Cup game. For Croatia. the story runs through Luka Modrić. 40. appearing in his fifth World Cup—an arc he’s been chasing for years and could be closing after this one. Croatia reached the final in 2018 and finished third in 2022.
Portugal manager Roberto Martinez spoke ahead of the match, saying the preparation “was very important.” He added that Croatia is a team Portugal knows well, and that Croatia knows Portugal’s “strengths and our talent,” setting up a “competitive match.”
The matchup itself carries plenty of tension even before the first whistle. The group stage left some viewers reaching for a harsh conclusion: that Ronaldo’s presence is dragging Portugal down. That sentiment is not universal, but it’s part of the pressure hanging over the lineup tonight.
After watching the group stage, one live update saw Portugal trailing Croatia, with the score listed as Portugal 1-2 Croatia. Another forecast had Portugal 1-1 Croatia, with Portugal winning on PKs. A third prediction also landed at Portugal 1-1 Croatia, but with Croatia winning on PKs.
One writer went further, predicting Croatia would control the night with a Portugal 0-2 Croatia scoreline. The common thread across those takes: Croatia’s reputation for stepping up in World Cup knockouts—and the idea that the team will dig deep to get results. That includes the belief that it could “likely” bring a close to Ronaldo’s World Cup career. and the sense that Croatia is playing hungry and more motivated to honor its own legend.
The teams are set.
Portugal’s lineup includes Diogo Costa, Rúben Dias, Renato Veiga, João Cancelo, Nuno Mendes, Bruno Fernandes, João Neves, Vitinha, Cristiano Ronaldo (C), Rafael Leão, and Pedro Neto.
Croatia’s lineup features Dominik Livaković, Josip Stanišić, Marin Pongračić, Josip Šutalo, Mateo Kovačić, Luka Modrić (C), Nikola Vlašić, Martin Baturina, Petar Sučić, Ante Budimir, and Ivan Perišić.
Ronaldo’s club career adds to the global backdrop. He plays for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, after previously spending time with Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus. Portugal’s World Cup history is also stark: the team has never won the World Cup. and its best finish was third place in 1966.
Croatia’s calendar also has a human timing to it. Modrić is 40 years old and is celebrating his 41st birthday in September. That timing sits in the same emotional frame as the matchup—because this is the tournament moment Croatia may be using to define, or redefine, its legacy.
Before this Round of 32 match begins, Ronaldo has scored two goals in the 2026 group stage, both coming in a win against Uzbekistan. He enters the knockout stage with 10 career World Cup goals.
If this is the last chapter for Ronaldo at the World Cup, it will be written in the same tournament where he built his record: scoring in six different World Cups. And if Croatia’s Modrić ends his fifth, it will be with a team that has already shown it can rise when the margins tighten.
The match is set for 7:00 PM ET at BMO Field in Toronto. The rest—pain, celebration, and whatever comes next for two icons—will unfold in real time.
Portugal vs Croatia World Cup Round of 32 Cristiano Ronaldo Luka Modrić BMO Field Toronto Roberto Martinez
If Ronaldo’s done, I’m gonna be mad, he carried so much.
So wait kickoff is 7pm ET but it says in Toronto like that’s a different time? Soccer websites confuse me lol. Also people blaming Ronaldo in the group stage like… did anyone watch the whole match?
Portugal 1-2 Croatia?? I saw someone post that Portugal loses no matter what, then another person said PKs. This article is literally multiple scores. I’m just gonna assume Croatia wins because Modric always shows up in playoffs or whatever.
The way they talk about Ronaldo “end of his World Cup career” is kinda sad ngl. But also Martinez says preparation was very important… okay sure, but why is everyone acting like Croatia is gonna do the same thing again? I don’t get how a player can score in six World Cups and still be the reason the team is struggling.