Cristiano Ronaldoβs World Cup dream stays still alive as Luka Modric bows out
Portugal survived a wild, sprawling finish in Toronto to edge Croatia 2-1 and reach the last 16, a night defined by Cristiano Ronaldoβs first-ever World Cup knockout goal, GonΓ§alo Ramosβ late header, and a dramatic VAR intervention that denied Josko Gvardiol a stoppageβtime equaliser. Croatia had led through Ivan Perisic and looked the sharper side for long stretches, but Portugalβs response and the officiating that followed, swung the contest and kept Ronaldoβs final World Cup alive. Luka Modric, 40 and almost certainly at his last tournament, walked off with the opposite fate. Croatia strike first The opening half offered little beyond…

