Portugal endured one of the most dramatic matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32, beating Croatia 2-1 to book a last 16 clash against Spain. Cristiano Ronaldo scored from the penalty spot, but Goncalo Ramos delivered the decisive winner in stoppage time for Toronto.The result sent Portugal flying, but the post match conversation quickly shifted away from the scoreline. FIFA’s decision to name Ronaldo as Man of the Match left many supporters questioning whether the award would go to the player who scored the winning goal.
Goncalo Ramos sealed Portugal’s victory while Cristiano Ronaldo’s FIFA award stole the spotlight
Croatia looked set to produce a memorable result after Ivan Perisic broke the deadlock early in the second half. Portugal responded through Ronaldo, who calmly converted a penalty to score his first goal in a World Cup knockout match and put his side back in contention.Just when extra time seemed certain, Goncalo Ramos rose inside the box to head home the winner in stoppage time. Croatia thought they had forced extra time late on, but Josko Gvardiol’s equalizer was ruled out after VAR determined Mario Pasalic was offside following a low touch from Igor Matanovic in the build-up.The win also carried emotional weight for Portugal, with players paying tribute to late teammate Diogo Jota after the final whistle. Roberto Martinez praised the character of his squad, saying, “The World Cup started today for us. We played with pride, represented the shirt. We showed personality after we fell. This is a very special team and a very special day because of Diogo (Jota). I am content and proud. Now we have to think about the next game.“
Fans questioned FIFA’s choice after Ronaldo received another award
Although Ronaldo celebrated another personal milestone, many fans felt that the Man of the Match award did not reflect the overall performance on the field. The 41-year-old equalized from the penalty spot before being substituted, while Ramos scored the goal that ultimately decided the match.Online reactions quickly focused on FIFA’s decision. One fan wrote, “On top of the penalty and who won the game for them? FIFA’s choice is crazy. He only has one sho.” Another posted, “THE REAL MAN OF THE MATCH WINNER: GONCALO RAMOS.”Some argued that Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa or Ramos had stronger performances throughout the 90 minutes. One supporter wrote, “Sorry, but what? What the f*** did he do?” while another added, “What nonsense!” Another fan commented, “Cristiano Ronaldo winning man of the match is a disgrace to the establishment.”The debate even drew comparisons to previous World Cup tournaments. One fan wrote, “I love him more than any player but it’s like when Messi won the world cup, he didn’t do anything in the game but they gave him man of the match.”The award cannot change Portugal’s biggest success of the night. Ramos’ late header secured a place in the Round of 16, where Portugal will face Spain in one of the most anticipated knockout games of the tournament.