Diogo Costa saves Portugal, shows why he's vital for FC Porto in 2026 | OneFootball

Diogo Costa was once again in the spotlight 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 finished the match with five saves, three of them from inside the box, as well as three ball recoveries, in a decisive performance 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 used his 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 struggling more.

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

Portugal would go on to win 2-1 in an intense and evenly balanced match, with the goalkeeper playing a central role in one of the most demanding moments of the game. His performance against Croatia reinforces the importance of Diogo Costa in Portugal’s journey through this knockout stage of the World Cup.

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