Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 900th career goal to help Portugal get off to a winning start in the Nations League with a 2-1 win over Croatia. After Diogo Dalot set up Roberto Martinez’s opener, the 39-year-old scored in the 34th minute to double his team’s lead. It was a mixed night for Dalot, who allowed Croatia to turn the game around with an own goal, but Portugal held on to win. “I gave everything to this sport” – Morgan ends legendary career, announces pregnancy Cristiano Ronaldo became the first footballer to score 900 career goals as he helped Portugal win 2-1 against Croatia in the UEFA Nations League. Portugal dominated throughout the game but only held a two-goal lead for a few minutes when Diogo Dalot deflected the ball past his own goalkeeper in the same first half in which they had taken the lead. But even without the burden of history, Ronaldo’s goal, picking up a cross from Nuno Mendes and volleying it past Dominik Livakovic into the goal, sparked wild celebrations in Lisbon. Ronaldo, Portugal come from behind to win after Scotland take an early lead Ronaldo, Portugal come from behind to win after Scotland take an early lead UEFA Nations League Ronaldo, Portugal come from behind to win after Scotland take an early lead September 8, 2024, 9:18pm Dalot’s first goal seemed to hasten defeat after his Manchester United teammate had conceded a goal with a superb close-range shot from Bruno Fernandes. Croatia kept a goal clear in the closing stages of the game, but they didn’t offer much in attack as Luka Modric’s star power continued to fade. But Poland top Group A1 after a shaky game at Hampden Park. Scotland were level at 2-2 at halftime when Nikola Zalewski’s 97th-minute penalty cancelled out efforts from Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay to give Poland the lead on points. But Portugal achieved their biggest goal of securing the three points, with Ronaldo stepping up their efforts in the second half and Mendes and Nelson Semedo having chances to decide the game. A Dalot own goal four minutes before half-time put Croatia in the lead and they had chances, but they went into the final 20 minutes in better form. Andrej Kramaric helped set up the team’s goals and had a chance to secure a point in the dying seconds, but his shot went over the post and Portugal earned a deserved victory. Talking points – The striking contrast between Ronaldo and Modric Ivan Perišić, now 35 and without a club since leaving Hajduk Split in the summer, removed Modric’s captain’s armband with 10 minutes remaining as Zlatko Dalic tried to rally the team in search of an equaliser. This marked the end of Modric’s 179th cap for Croatia, five months younger than Ronaldo, but the Portugal captain’s decision to hand the attacking attack to 26-year-old Pedro Goncalves was a bitter reminder of the loss of another 2018 World Cup finalist. He can be seen trotting in from the opposite bank. Surrounded by compatriots near or in their prime, Ronaldo enjoyed a winning partnership with Mendes throughout the match, ultimately resulting in the decisive goal. Martinez may have retained the same core that slumped in Germany over the summer, but as a team it only seems to improve while Croatia is moving in a different direction. Martin Baturina was a light in midfield before being replaced by Igor Matanovic, also born in 2003, but he got more touches inside the penalty area and truly shone late on. But they are a lonely lighthouse in an ageing Croatian team that will need to undergo a revolution if they are to have any chance of maintaining their recent record at the 2026 World Cup. Best Player – Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) Ronaldo is clearly not the player he once was, and times are finally catching up with one of the fittest athletes in world sport. But when Mendes was given the space and the opportunity to carry the ball forward, it was he who thought the quickest inside the penalty area. Ronaldo showed he had picked up many clever tricks in his 1,235 professional games. Player reviewsPortugal: Costa 7, Dalot 7, Dias 7, Inacio 6, Mendes 8, B Silva 7, Vicinha 6, Fernande 7, Neto 6, Ronaldo 8, Leo 6. Substitutes: J Neves 6, Semedo 7, A Silva 5, Jota 6, Goncalves 6. Croatia: Livakovic 7, Staro 6, Pongracic 5, Gvardior 6, Jakić 7, Modric 5, Baturina 7, Kovacic 6, Sosa 7, Pasalic 6, Kramaric 7. Players: Kaleta Calle 7, Matanovic 8, L Susic 6, Perisic 6, P Susic 6. MATCH HIGHLIGHTS7′ – GOAL! Portugal 1-0 Croatia (Dalot): What a great start for Portugal! Fernandes was once again at the heart of the match, sneaking in from the left wing with plenty of options and finding the Manchester United full-back’s perfectly timed run with a deft flick. 23′ – Almost 900! Viewers were eager to see history made tonight and were close to catching the moment Ronaldo sprinted in to latch onto a sweet backheel trick from Rafael Leao. 34′ – GOAL!! Portugal 2-0 Croatia (Ronaldo): This was the moment everyone wanted to see, Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal number 900! And it was brutally simple too, a sharp cross from distance by Nuno Mendes. 41′ – GOAL!!! PORTUGAL 2-1 CROATIA (DALOT OG): He scored both goals today and out of nowhere Croatia came back into the game! A quick reaction from Livakovic sparked a counter-attack and Kramaric, who had previously been offside, made a well-timed run to win the ball on the right side of the penalty area. He kept it well before firing a low cross towards the crowd of fans. 45′ – On the crossbar! Livakovic is brought down but the ball hits the crossbar and goes away from Ronaldo.