Houston — Cristiano Ronaldo etched his name deeper into football immortality by becoming the first player to score at six different World Cup tournaments. The 41-year-old Portuguese captain netted twice in Portugal’s commanding 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan at the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday.
Ronaldo opened the scoring in the sixth minute, converting a João Cancelo cross at the near post. He added his second on 39 minutes, calmly finishing a precise pass from Bruno Fernandes. The brace took his international tally to 145 goals in 230 appearances and lifted his World Cup goal count to 10.
The win, Portugal’s response to criticism following a disappointing 1-1 draw against DR Congo, moved them to four points in Group K and strengthened their chances of advancing to the Round of 32 ahead of a clash with leaders Colombia.
“Records are always nice, but my goal is always to help the national team achieve its objectives,” Ronaldo said, emphasising team success over personal milestones.
Coach Roberto Martinez praised the squad’s maturity and response. Ronaldo’s performance silenced doubters, with the star visibly celebrating by declaring “I’m back” post-match
