Ronaldo's late equaliser ends his World Cup knockout drought

At 41, Cristiano Ronaldo finally broke his World Cup knockout curse, scoring for Portugal in the second‑half of their round‑of‑16 clash with Croatia in Toronto, leveling the match after Ivan Perišić had put the visitors ahead. The veteran's strike came from the spot‑kick awarded just before the halftime hydration break. Ivan Perišić found the net in the second half, giving Croatia a 1‑0 advantage. The Croatian winger's goal shifted momentum before Portugal's comeback. Portugal were awarded a penalty just before the halftime hydration break. The spot‑kick offered a chance to respond before the teams retreated to the locker rooms.

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Ronaldo stepped up to take the penalty and fired home, restoring parity. His conversion brought the score to 1‑1. The goal ended Ronaldo's long‑running curse of never having scored in a World Cup knockout match for Portugal. Until this moment, the veteran had appeared in multiple knockout games without finding the net.

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The strike underscores Ronaldo's prolific scoring record amassed over more than two decades at the top level. His continued presence in the tournament highlights his enduring fitness. Observers note that betting against him to add further World Cup goals would be unwise. The match now stands level as the teams head into the final minutes.