The victory helped Selecao to move to fourth spot in the table, having collected ten points from seven matches, eight adrift of leaders Argentina. The top six teams at the end of the cycle will earn automatic qualification for the global event set to be held in Mexico, USA and Canada in two years time.
The victory helped the Azzurri to take the initial lead in League A Group 2, level on points with second-placed Belgium, beat separated by goal-difference. The Red Devils defeated Israel 3-1 in the other match of the day.
The Red Devils are heading into the match on the back of round of 16 exit at Euro 2024, while Israel played two friendlies in June, losing the first one 3-0, before thrashing Belarus 4-0.
France are heading into the match on the back of a semi-final defeat to eventual champions Spain in Euro 2024, while the Azzurri, the Euro 2020 winners, lost out to Switzerland in the round of 16 stage.
Alexis Mac Allister, Julian Alvarez and Paulo Dybala netted for La Albiceleste to take all three points and extend their winning run to 12 games across all competitions.
Diogo Dalot initially put the hosts ahead inside the opening seven minutes before Ronaldo doubled the lead with a fine volley from close range. Though Croatia pulled one back through Dalot's own goal in the 41st-minute, the hosts held on to the slender lead and secured all three points.
Argentina sit atop the ten-team CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifier table , having collected 15 points from six matches, while La Roja are languishing at the eighth position, with just five points to their name.
Saudi Arabia and Indonesia reached this stage courtesy of finishing second in their second round groups. Meanwhile the two nations are drawn alongside Japan, Australia, Bahrain and Palestine in Group D.
Both sides won their respective groups in the second round to reach this far in the World Cup qualifiers. In the third round, the two teams are competing in Group A alongside, Iran, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and North Korea.
Iran progressed through the previous round as Group E winners courtesy of collecting 14 points from 6 games, while Kyrgyzstan finished second in Group D, with 11 points to their name.
