Portugal vs Croatia live streaming: Can Ronaldo play when it matters most?

A deep sense of finality hangs over Toronto ahead of Thursday’s sensational World Cup Round of 32 clash between Portugal and Croatia. For two of the greatest icons of the modern era, 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo and 40-year-old Luka Modric, this first-ever meeting of their nations at the World Cup carries an uncompromising reality: for one of them, it will almost certainly be the last time they grace the pitch on the world’s biggest stage.

The round of 32 match between Portugal and Croatia will start at 4:30 AM IST. TV channel Unite8 Sports will telecast the match live in India. Live streaming available on Zee5 app and website.

The tale of two former Real Madrid teammates and Ballon d’Or winners has electrified the host city, which will mark its final game of the tournament with this poetic knockout tie. Ontario is home to a massive diaspora, including nearly 100,000 people of Croatian descent and over 300,000 of Portuguese descent. High stakes have triggered a ticket frenzy, with resale prices exceeding $3,000.

Fans went into a frenzy the moment they spotted Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portuguese teammates at their hotel in Toronto. pic.twitter.com/jMh33ZERyk— The Nassr Tribune (@AlNassrTribune) July 2, 2026

Ronaldo can become one of only two men to play in six World Cups alongside Lionel Messi. But for all the records he has broken, one big gap remains: he has never scored or provided an assist in the knockout stages of a FIFA World Cup. And against a disciplined Croatian unit, the task will only become tougher.

While the global audience is watching the match through the lens of Ronaldo and Modric, Croatian coach Zlatko Dalič insists that the tactical reality will be decided elsewhere. For Dalic, the outcome rests on a grueling midfield battle where his veteran engine room must nullify Portugal’s technical flexibility.

“I believe it will be a midfield battle. Portugal have excellent players in midfield. They are tactically very good. Every mistake will be punished in this match,” Dalic said at a press conference in Toronto on Wednesday.

Croatia enter the knockout stages with the resilience that has seen them finish second in 2018 and third in 2022. After missing their opener against England, Dalic’s team rallied with a 1-0 win over Panama and a 2-1 win against Ghana. Their midfield relies heavily on the consistent mastery of Modric, accompanied by the emerging energy of Martin Baturina and Petar Sucič, who both found the net during the group stage.

Portugal will counter with a formidable trio of their own in Vitinha, Joao Neves and Bruno Fernandes.

Dalic remains very cautious about their playing patterns, noting: “They are a team that wants to have the ball at all times. This team has few weaknesses. And they can create risk and danger at any time.”

SECOND WORLD CUP FOR PORTUGAL

Portugal’s journey to the round of 32 was less convincing. Roberto Martinez’s men were underwhelmed in the group stage, progressing with just one win, a 5-0 thrashing of Uzbekistan and two draws against DR Congo and Colombia.

“Tomorrow we start the second World Cup, the preparation was very important,” said Martinez, banishing frustrations from the group stage.

Martinez faced intense scrutiny from the Portuguese media after Ronaldo played the full 90 minutes in the last group game against Colombia, leaving secondary striker Goncalo Ramos short of game time. The manager dismissed those selection concerns on Wednesday and emphasized the team’s unity over individual billing.

“The important thing is that all the players are ready to play for the team – whether in the starting line-up or on the bench,” he said.

When the whistle blows on Thursday, sentimentality will be pushed aside for 90 minutes of elite, careful tournament football.

But when the final whistle blows, one of the game’s greatest eras officially comes to an end on Toronto’s turf.

PORTUGAL VS CROATIA: Predicted starting lineups

Portugal (4-2-3-1): Diogo Costa; Joo Cancelo, Rben Dias, Renato Veiga, Nuno Mendes; Vitinha, João Neves; Pedro Neto, Bruno Fernandes, Joo Flix; Cristiano Ronaldo.

Croatia (4-2-3-1): Dominik Livakovič; Josip Staniič, Josip Utalo, Marin Pongracic, Joko Gvardiol; Petar Sucic, Mateo Kovacic; Luka Modric, Martin Baturina, Ivan Periic; Ante Budimír.

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Issued by:

Akshay Ramesh

Published on:

02 Jul 2026 18:16 IST