Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score in six different FIFA World Cup tournaments after netting twice in Portugal’s 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan in Houston on Tuesday.
The 41-year-old captain struck early in the match to open the scoring before adding a second in a dominant first-half display, either side of a Nuno Mendes free-kick. An own goal from Abduvohid Nematov and a late finish from Rafael Leão completed the rout as Portugal claimed their first Group K win.
Ronaldo’s historic opener came after just six minutes, marking goals across six World Cup editions since his first in 2006 against Iran.
The Portugal forward, who had faced criticism for a quiet start to the tournament following a 1-1 draw with DR Congo, ended a run of goalless appearances at major international competitions with a decisive performance.
Before the Uzbekistan clash, Ronaldo had gone 10 games at major tournaments without a goal, a drought that had drawn comparisons with rivals Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane.
Despite recent scrutiny, the veteran forward—now playing for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia—extended his remarkable longevity on the international stage, having made his debut for Portugal in 2003.
Portugal’s emphatic win moves them closer to qualification for the knockout stages of the tournament.
