Round of 32Full time
Final · Jul 2
Goals
3 goals — watch every replay below
- 53'Ivan Perišić▲ 2.3k
- 68'Cristiano RonaldoPEN▲ 3.2k
The market saw itImplied · model line
The stakes
Round of 32, full time: Portugal 2-1 Croatia. Single elimination — one side's run ends here.
- storylineRonaldo's Final CurtainFrustrating start: Portugal held to a 1-1 draw by debutants DR Congo (June 17). Ronaldo played the full 90 but was goalless and missed two clear chances, visibly disgusted. He and Messi are now the only men to play six World Cups.
The two sides
PortugalRonaldo's last hunt for the big trophy
A coronation and a succession crisis at once — will Ronaldo at 41 finally claim the trophy that eluded him, with a wave of brilliant kids waiting for the baton? No team carries a heavier "what if."
CroatiaSmall nation, finalists, aging stars
A country of 4 million and one of the great footballing generations — two finals built around friends who grew up together, with 40-year-old Modric conducting almost certainly his final World Cup.
Who plays where
Portugal
- PSG ×2Vitinha, Nuno Mendes
- AC MilanRafael Leao
- Al NassrCristiano Ronaldo
- BenficaAntonio Silva
- Man CityBernardo Silva
- Manchester CityRuben Dias
Croatia
- Manchester City ×2Mateo Kovacic, Josko Gvardiol
- AC MilanLuka Modric
- HoffenheimAndrej Kramaric
- PSV EindhovenIvan Perisic