Diogo Costa saves Portugal, shows why he’s Porto’s 2026 trump card | OneFootball

Diogo Costa once again stood out in Portugal’s 2-1 win over Croatia at the 2026 World Cup in Toronto, in a match that secured the national team’s place in the round of 16.

The Portuguese goalkeeper ended the match with five saves, three of them from inside the box, as well as three ball recoveries, in a decisive display especially in the second half. After a quieter first half, Diogo Costa was called into action more often after the break and responded confidently in several moments of Croatian pressure.

Among the most notable moments was an intervention right at the start of the second half, when he stuck out a foot to deflect a Mateo Kovacic shot from inside the area. Later, he once again denied Croatia a goal against Ante Matanovic, at a time when Portugal were under greater pressure.

The Portugal international’s performance was crucial in keeping the team in the fight until the favorable outcome. Croatia grew into the match after the break and created enough chances to contest the result, but found a constant obstacle in Diogo Costa.

Portugal ultimately won 2-1 in an intense and evenly matched game, with the goalkeeper playing a central role in one of the most demanding moments of the match. The display against Croatia reinforces the importance of Diogo Costa in Portugal’s World Cup knockout-stage campaign.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.