Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score in six FIFA World Cups, netting twice as Portugal cruised to a commanding 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan at the 2026 World Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo Sets World Cup Record as Portugal Hammer Uzbekistan 5-0
Cristiano Ronaldo turned back the clock and etched his name even deeper into football history as Portugal swept aside Uzbekistan 5-0 at the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Houston.
After watching global stars Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland dominate the headlines during the tournament, Ronaldo produced a performance worthy of centre stage, delivering a record-breaking brace that propelled Portugal to a convincing victory and strengthened their World Cup ambitions.
Appearing at his sixth World Cup finals, the 41-year-old opened the scoring with a clinical close-range finish after a pinpoint delivery from Joao Cancelo. The goal carried enormous significance, making Ronaldo the first player in football history to score in six different FIFA World Cups. It also elevated him to second place on the list of oldest goalscorers in tournament history, behind only Cameroon legend Roger Milla.
The strike appeared to lift a weight from Ronaldo’s shoulders following a frustrating outing against Congo DR in Portugal’s opening match. Buoyed by the breakthrough, the veteran forward struck again just before half-time, calmly finding the corner for his 10th World Cup goal. That milestone saw him surpass Portuguese icon Eusebio’s tally of nine goals to become his country’s outright leading scorer in World Cup finals history.
Ronaldo’s influence extended beyond his goals. He played a key role in Portugal’s second goal, cleverly drawing defenders away as Nuno Mendes delivered a superb first-half free-kick. Portugal’s dominance continued after the break when Uzbekistan inadvertently turned the ball into their own net, before Rafa Leao added a fifth late in the contest to complete an emphatic performance.
Uzbekistan, appearing at their maiden World Cup, showed flashes of quality despite the heavy defeat. Having celebrated their first-ever World Cup goal against Colombia earlier in the tournament, they thought they had found the net again through a spectacular long-range strike from Azizjon Ganiev. However, the effort was ruled out following a foul in the build-up, denying the debutants a rare moment of joy.
For Portugal, the night belonged to Ronaldo. At an age when most players have long since retired, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner once again demonstrated his enduring quality on football’s biggest stage, rewriting the record books and reminding the world why he remains one of the sport’s greatest-ever figures.
