Portugal vs Croatia Key Stats: FIFA World Cup 2026
by Trystan Pugh ·
Updated
Below you can find key stats for Portugal vs Croatia. From historical trends to player milestones, we have you covered for every match at FIFA World Cup 2026 in USA, Canada & Mexico!
- This is the first World Cup meeting between Portugal and Croatia. Overall, they have met ten times with Portugal losing just once (W7 D2). Their only encounter in a major tournament knockout tie was in the round of 16 at UEFA EURO 2016 when Portugal won 1-0 in extra time on their way to winning the competition.
- Portugal’s World Cup record against European teams is P15 W7 D2 L6. They have won four and lost four of their knockout ties, with their most recent meeting being their 6-1 triumph over Switzerland in the Round of 16 at Qatar 2022.
- Portugal are competing in the knockout stage for the fifth time in their last six participations in the tournament.
- Portugal have lost only three of their last 14 World Cup matches (W6 D5).
- Bruno Fernandes could make his ninth World Cup appearance, becoming the seventh player to reach the milestone for Portugal.
- With his 25th appearance against Colombia, Cristiano Ronaldo has moved into joint-second place alongside Lothar Matthäus on the list of top appearance-makers in FIFA World Cup history with only Lionel Messi (29) having featured more.
- Croatia have lost only three of their 12 FIFA World Cup matches against European opposition (W6 D3), even accounting for their 4-2 defeat to England in their opening fixture at the 2026 finals.
- Croatia have been successful in six of their eight World Cup knockout phase ties against European sides.
- Croatia have reached the FIFA World Cup knockout stages for the third consecutive edition, following their run to the final in 2018 and their third‑place finish at Qatar 2022.
- Croatia have prevailed in nine of their 12 knockout phase ties at the World Cup.
- Luka Modrić has featured in each of Croatia’s last 22 matches at the World Cup, a sequence that dates to the nation’s second outing at the 2006 instalment. A 23rd appearance at the global showpiece would move him into joint-fifth on the list of all-time most appearances in the competition alongside Paolo Maldini and Manuel Neuer.
- Croatia have opened the scoring in three of their last four World Cup fixtures.
- Croatia have led at half-time in eight World Cup matches and went on to win all eight.
- Croatia need to find the net twice to reach the landmark of 50 goals scored at the FIFA World Cup.
- Portugal’s Rúben Dias and Matheus Nunes are Manchester City team-mates of Croatia’s Joško Gvardiol and Mateo Kovačić; Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva also played alongside Gvardiol and Kovačić for City from 2023-26.
- Portugal winger Gonçalo Guedes plays with Croatia’s Duje Ćaleta-Car and Luka Sučić at Spanish club Real Sociedad.
- Croatia’s Luka Modrić and Portugal’s Rafael Leão are AC Milan team-mates.
- The captains of the opposing team, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modrić, were Real Madrid team-mates from 2012-18, winning, among other trophies, four UEFA Champions League titles together.
