Joao Felix urged calm before Portugal faced Croatia in the World Cup last 32, insisting confidence remained high despite recent draws. Portugal reached
the knockouts after finishing second in Group K, while Croatia also advanced as runners-up. The match took place at Toronto Stadium, with many observers viewing Roberto Martinez's team as one of the main title contenders.
Felix addressed concerns from Portugal supporters after group games against Colombia and DR Congo brought only two points. Portugal drew 0-0 with Colombia in the final group match, a result that dropped the team behind the South Americans. Expectations had been higher, with many predicting Portugal would secure first place.
Portugal’s overall record against Croatia remained strong going into this knockout tie. The Selecao had lost just one of 10 meetings in all competitions, winning seven and drawing two. In competitive fixtures, the record was even better, with five wins and one draw from six matches, leaving Croatia still searching for a landmark victory.
Form at this World Cup also supported Portugal’s belief. Martinez's side were unbeaten in three matches, with one win and two draws. Portugal had only twice before completed four or more games without defeat in a single World Cup campaign, achieving that in 1966 with four matches and in 2006 with five.
Despite the dropped points, statistical models still rated Portugal highly. The Opta supercomputer gave them a 16% chance of lifting the World Cup for the first time. That figure underlined why many analysts in Europe and the Middle East regarded Portugal as serious contenders, even after a less dominant group stage than expected.
"They [Portuguese fans] should rest assured, Joao Felix said on Monday. Just because we drew two games doesn't mean we're any less confident. It's the World Cup. Everyone just needs to stay calm. We're very confident that we'll beat Croatia. "
Felix arrived at the tournament following an eye-catching first season with Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. Al-Nassr won the 2025-26 title, with Felix central to that success. The forward contributed 33 league goal involvements, scoring 20 goals and supplying 13 assists across the domestic campaign.
Only two players recorded more league goal involvements than Felix in that season. Julian Quinones finished with 37, while Ivan Toney led the charts on 39. Those numbers helped restore Felix's confidence after challenging periods on loan at Chelsea and AC Milan, when performances did not meet expectations.
| Player | Club 2025-26 | League goals | League assists | Total goal involvements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ivan Toney | Brentford | - | - | 39 |
| Julian Quinones | - | - | - | 37 |
| Joao Felix | Al-Nassr | 20 | 13 | 33 |
"This has been a very important year in my career, he added. I feel confident and ready to help the team. Without a doubt I feel more mature. It was an incredible year. I'm coming in more confident than ever. "
Trabalho. Confiana. Vontade de vencer. #VaiDarPortugal | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/he4FItLAMYPortugal (@selecaoportugal) June 29, 2026
Portugal vs Croatia clash, Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Felix link
Felix also brought a full club season alongside Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo into this World Cup. Ronaldo made history by becoming the first player to score in six World Cups. The forward, aged 41, prepared for a ninth World Cup knockout appearance, but still searched for a first goal at that stage.
| Player | World Cups scored in | Knockout matches | Knockout goals | Knockout shots |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 6 | 8 | 0 | 29 |
| Roberto Carlos | - | - | - | 29 |
Ronaldo had taken 29 shots in knockout games without scoring, the joint-most on record since 1966. Brazil defender Roberto Carlos shared that statistic. Some Portugal fans questioned Ronaldo's minutes and influence, yet Martinez continued to trust the captain’s presence and off-ball impact in key matches.
"A year of playing together is a long time, Joao Felix said. You get to know your team-mate well. You come to understand what he needs and what he likes. I think we make a good duo he knows where I like to receive the ball, and vice versa. He's an asset wherever he plays. "
As Portugal met Croatia in the last 32, the team carried strong historical records, positive data projections and renewed confidence from Felix’s development at Al-Nassr. Combined with Ronaldo's experience and their unbeaten group campaign, those elements shaped a decisive World Cup test for Martinez's squad.
