Ronaldo Silences Critics with Historic Brace as Portugal Crush Uzbekistan 5-0
The Portugal captain became the first footballer to score in six different FIFA World Cups, leading his side to a dominant victory in Houston.
Cristiano Ronaldo delivered a historic performance as Portugal thrashed World Cup debutants Uzbekistan 5-0 in their Group K clash at the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Houston.
The 41-year-old striker scored twice to become the first player in football history to find the net in six different World Cup tournaments, stretching from 2006 to 2026. His opening goal came in the sixth minute, sparking celebrations among the 68,000-plus fans inside the stadium.
Ronaldo added a second goal before halftime, taking his World Cup tally to 10 and surpassing Portuguese legend Eusébio as Portugal's highest scorer in FIFA World Cup history.
Nuno Mendes doubled Portugal's lead with a superb free-kick, while an own goal by Uzbekistan goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov and a late strike from substitute Rafael Leão completed the rout.
Uzbekistan briefly thought they had reduced the deficit through Azizjon Ganiev, but the goal was ruled out following a VAR review for a foul on João Cancelo in the build-up.
The emphatic win was a timely response from Ronaldo, who had faced criticism after Portugal's 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their opening match. The veteran forward had gone 10 major tournament games without a goal before rediscovering his scoring touch against Uzbekistan.
Portugal are now on the verge of securing a place in the knockout rounds and will face Colombia in their final group-stage match. Colombia, meanwhile, strengthened their qualification hopes after defeating Uzbekistan 3-1 earlier in the tournament.
With another record-breaking display, Ronaldo once again proved that age is just a number, keeping Portugal's World Cup dream alive and firmly silencing his critics.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only. While we endeavor to keep the information up to date and correct, News Setu makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, or reliability of the content. Any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk.