Portugal meet Croatia on Thursday in WC matches at the 2026 World Cup after drawing two of their three games. Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, is under the sharpest scrutiny because his contribution has not matched his reputation, and Portugal still need a cleaner response in the last-32.
Croatia Bring Experience
Croatia arrive with Luka Modric and Mateo Kovačić in midfield, plus Joško Gvardiol and Josip Stanišić at the back. That mix gives Portugal a tougher assignment than a routine knockout tie, especially with the last-32 now down to one result that decides who keeps moving.
Portugal’s own path has been uneven. They drew against the Democratic Republic of Congo and Colombia, which is why the pressure around Ronaldo has grown instead of easing. Roberto Martínez needs more from the attack than reputation alone, and the numbers so far have not given Portugal a cushion.
Spain And Austria In Los Angeles
The rest of Thursday’s slate carries its own pressure. Spain are scheduled to play Austria in Los Angeles, and Austria reached the last 32 by scoring an equaliser in the sixth minute of stoppage time against Algeria. That finish left no room for error and showed how thin the margin can be in this phase.
Spain’s own reference point remains Euro 2024, which they won, but they have not fully hit top form at this tournament. Lamine Yamal is still searching for sharpness after an injury layoff, while Fabián Ruiz said, “It’s not important who plays, it’s important we support each other.”
Portugal Need Ronaldo
For Portugal, the practical question is simple: can Ronaldo turn a heavy name into decisive output when the bracket tightens? He is 41-year-old, and the match against Croatia is the place where that gap between status and production has to close if Portugal want their tournament to keep going in the direction they expected.
Thursday is the penultimate day of last-32 action at the 2026 World Cup, so the stakes are immediate. Portugal’s draw-heavy start has already made this a narrow road, and Croatia offer enough experience and quality to force Martínez into a choice built on form rather than reputation.
