Ronaldo Becomes First Player to Score in Six World Cups, Leads Portugal Rout of Uzbekistan

Cristiano Ronaldo cemented his place in World Cup history by becoming the first player ever to score in six consecutive FIFA World Cups, scoring twice in Portugal's dominant 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan on June 23, 2026. The 41-year-old forward opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a well-positioned finish from João Cancelo's cross, then added a second goal in the 39th minute with a composed strike during a counterattack initiated by Bruno Fernandes. The brace silenced critics who had questioned whether Ronaldo should retain his starting position after Portugal's disappointing 1-1 draw with DR Congo in their opening match.

Ronaldo's performance marked a significant turnaround for the Portuguese team, who secured their first win of the tournament with an emphatic display. The 41-year-old became the oldest player to score multiple goals in a single World Cup match, surpassing a record set by Lionel Messi earlier in the tournament. He also became only the second-oldest goalscorer in World Cup history, behind Cameroon's Roger Milla, and the third player to hold the distinction of being both the youngest and oldest scorer for his country at the World Cup, joining Messi and Denmark's Michael Laudrup.

Portugal's commanding victory was completed by goals from Nuno Mendes, an own goal by Uzbekistan's goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov, and Rafael Leão. After the match, Ronaldo declared "I'm back" to television cameras, reflecting on the intense scrutiny he had faced. In interviews, he acknowledged the familiar pattern of his career: "It's always like that. When things go well, 'Cristiano is good,' when things go bad, 'Cristiano is a retired player, is old.' But we responded well today." Portugal manager Roberto Martínez praised Ronaldo's resilience, noting that his willingness to work and demand more from himself despite his emotions exemplified his character.

The victory positioned Portugal favorably ahead of their final group match against Colombia. Ronaldo has now surpassed Eusébio as Portugal's all-time World Cup goalscorer with 10 goals in the tournament. His 24th World Cup appearance for Portugal ranks third all-time, behind only Lionel Messi (28) and Lothar Matthäus (25). With 145 goals across 230 appearances for club and country, Ronaldo has scored against 49 different nations, adding another remarkable milestone to his decorated career.