Toronto. Gonçalo Ramos headed home a stoppage-time winner as Portugal rallied to beat Croatia 2-1 on Thursday night in a dramatic World Cup round-of-32 match that ended in controversy after Croatia had an apparent late equalizer ruled out for offside.

The match featured a showdown between two veteran stars: 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, playing in his sixth World Cup, and 40-year-old Croatia captain Luka Modrić, making his fifth bid for the title.

Ronaldo equalized from the penalty spot in the 68th minute for his first World Cup knockout-stage goal before being substituted in the 81st minute. Ramos then sealed Portugal's place in the round of 16 with a header deep into stoppage time.

Portugal will face Spain on Monday.

"We dominated the first half. In the second half, after their goal, we panicked a little, but that's football," Ronaldo said. "After the penalty, we played better, created a few chances, and in the end we deserved to win."

The match ended in controversy when Croatia thought it had leveled the score at 2-2 in the closing seconds. Mario Pašalić found the net, but a VAR review ruled him offside, disallowing the goal. Croatia fans responded by throwing bottles onto the field and whistling in protest.

Croatia had taken the lead in the 53rd minute when Ivan Perišić finished a cross from Josip Stanišić.

Ronaldo, who was loudly booed by Croatia supporters every time he touched the ball, equalized after Nikola Vlašić was penalized for holding inside the penalty area. The Portuguese captain used a stutter-step before calmly converting the spot kick down the middle as the goalkeeper dived to his right.

The match carried added significance as two former Real Madrid teammates pursued what could be their final opportunity to win the World Cup. Modrić led Croatia to runner-up and third-place finishes in 2018 and 2022, while Ronaldo continues his quest for the one major trophy missing from his career.

The two embraced before kickoff and shared another hug and a few words after the final whistle.

"I played with Luka for so many years," Ronaldo said. "We're nearly the same age. He's a legend of football, and he still is."

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