Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo made football history on Tuesday after scoring twice in his country’s 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The result moved Portugal closer to reaching the knockout stage, while Ronaldo’s performance answered questions surrounding his recent form.
The 41-year-old became the first player to score in six different World Cup tournaments, extending his record across competitions dating back to his first appearance in 2006.
Portugal star surpasses another milestone
Ronaldo opened the scoring just six minutes into the match after finishing a Joao Cancelo cross with a powerful effort inside the box.
The forward celebrated with his trademark “Siu” celebration in front of thousands of supporters in Houston.
After Nuno Mendes doubled Portugal’s advantage, Ronaldo struck again before halftime with a composed finish to make it 3-0.
The brace took Ronaldo’s World Cup goal tally to 10, making him Portugal’s highest-scoring player in the tournament’s history.
Veteran striker responds to criticism
Ronaldo entered the match under pressure following Portugal’s opening 1-1 draw against DR Congo, where he struggled to make an impact.
The result had led to discussions over whether coach Roberto Martinez should reduce his role in the team.
However, Martinez continued to trust his captain, and Ronaldo delivered with a match-winning display against Uzbekistan.
The Portuguese forward also arrived at the tournament as the leading scorer in men’s international football.
Portugal dominate Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan, making their first World Cup appearance, struggled to contain Portugal’s attacking quality.
The European side continued to control the match after Ronaldo’s second goal, with an own goal increasing the lead before Rafael Leão completed the scoring late in the game.
Portugal will now turn their attention to their final group match against Colombia as they aim to secure progress to the next stage.
