NEW DELHI: Cristiano Ronaldo turned back the clock with a stunning performance as Portugal thrashed Uzbekistan 5-0 in the FIFA World Cup 2026. The 41-year-old captain scored twice to help his side register their first win of the tournament after an underwhelming draw against DR Congo.With his brace, Ronaldo created history by becoming the first player ever to score in six different FIFA World Cups, stretching from 2006 to 2026. He also became Portugal’s all-time leading World Cup scorer with 10 goals, moving past Eusebio’s tally of nine. The achievement also put him alongside Lionel Messi and Michael Laudrup as players who are both their country’s youngest and oldest World Cup scorers.In another record, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have reached a remarkable statistical symmetry, with both stars recording an identical 20-year and 6-day gap between their first and latest tournament goals.Portugal entered the match under pressure after being held 1-1 by DR Congo in their opening game. Against Uzbekistan, however, they looked far sharper and more confident. Along with Ronaldo’s two goals, Nuno Mendes and Rafael Leao found the net, while an own goal from Uzbekistan goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov completed the rout.The emphatic win not only revived Portugal’s World Cup campaign but also boosted their goal difference ahead of the final group-stage fixture. It was a particularly important response for Ronaldo, who had struggled to make an impact in the opening match.
Ronaldo and Martinez react
Despite reaching another historic milestone, Ronaldo insisted that team success remains his priority.“The team performed really well and improved a lot. As the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining. Obviously, speaking personally, records are always nice but my goal is always to help the national team achieve its objectives,” he said.Portugal coach Roberto Martinez praised his team’s response after the disappointing start.“This was the response we had in the dressing room. There are times when you need a game like the first one in order to grow in the tournament. Today we saw a team with the same attitude and commitment, but with greater maturity because it was no longer the opening match,” Martinez said.For Ronaldo, it was yet another reminder that even at 41, he remains capable of making football history.
