Ronaldo Nets Record‑Sixth World Cup Goals as Portugal Rout Uzbekistan 5‑0

Cristiano Ronaldo becomes the first player to score at six World Cup tournaments as his brace helps Portugal to a thumping 5-0 victory over debutants Uzbekistan.

Cristiano Ronaldo made history by becoming the first player to score in six World Cup campaigns, opening the scoring early and adding a second half‑time strike in Portugal’s 5‑0 defeat of Uzbekistan at Houston Stadium.

His first goal came just six minutes into the match, a controlled finish from Joao Cancelo’s cross that gave the Portuguese a decisive lead. Nuno Mendes doubled the advantage with a curling free‑kick on the 17‑minute mark, and Ronaldo calmly slotted his second after a neat one‑two shortly before the break.

The Portuguese dominance continued after the interval. A defensive mix‑up allowed the ball to rebound off the goalkeeper, resulting in an own‑goal that made it 4‑0. Substitute Rafael Leao sealed the win with a powerful finish in the 87th minute.

The result not only secures Portugal’s progression toward the knockout rounds but also underscores Ronaldo’s enduring impact. With ten World Cup goals, he now outranks the legendary Eusebio as the all‑time leading Portuguese scorer in the tournament. His tally of 143 international goals remains the highest for a male player.

Ronaldo’s performance silenced recent critics who had questioned his fading edge at the highest level, especially after a disappointing 1‑1 draw with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and missed chances in subsequent matches. Coach Roberto Martinez’s steadfast backing of the captain proved justified as the side displayed a marked improvement in cohesion and confidence.

Ronaldo’s day

Ronaldo nearly opened the scoring in the third minute, missing a headed chance from Mendes’ cross and slapping the turf in frustration.

He did not have to wait long for his first goal; a swift swivel in the six‑yard box allowed him to meet Cancelo’s cross first time and fire the ball past Uzbekistan goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov.

The Italians‑coached side, led by Fabio Cannavaro, offered little resistance. After Mendes’ free‑kick made it 2‑0, a potential Uzbek reply was thwarted by VAR for a foul on Cancelo.

Ronaldo completed his brace with a well‑taken finish that left only the goalkeeper to beat, followed by an own‑goal off Nematov from a corner. His dominance continued as he almost added a third from a set‑piece routine, though Nematov kept him at bay.

Speaking after the match, Ronaldo expressed satisfaction with his team’s improvement while downplaying his personal milestones.

“I’m very happy. But for me, the most important thing is our work and the confidence we showed. The team performed really well and improved a lot,” he said.

“Obviously, speaking personally, records are always nice, but my goal is always to help the national team achieve its objectives.”

Portugal next faces Colombia in its final group encounter on Saturday, while Colombia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo clash later in Group K, knowing a win will secure both teams passage to the last‑32 stage.

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