For the first time at the 2026 World Cup, Portugal looked like a true contender. And for the first time in this tournament, Cristiano Ronaldo looked like Cristiano Ronaldo.
After enduring criticism following Portugal’s disappointing 1-1 draw against DR Congo and a lengthy goal drought in major international tournaments, the 41-year-old superstar responded in emphatic fashion Tuesday, scoring twice in Portugal’s dominant 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan. More importantly, he etched his name into soccer history once again.
Ronaldo’s opening goal made him the first player ever to score in six different FIFA World Cups. His World Cup scoring journey now spans two decades, from Germany 2006 to North America 2026.
And he wasn’t done.
His second goal of the match pushed him past Portuguese legend Eusébio as Portugal’s all-time leading World Cup scorer. What had been a nine-goal record dating back to 1966 now belongs to Ronaldo alone.
The performance was exactly what Portugal needed.
Nuno Mendes added a goal, Uzbekistan goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov scored an unfortunate own goal, and Rafael Leão capped the rout as Portugal overwhelmed the Central Asian side from start to finish. Portugal created chance after chance and looked far sharper than the team that struggled against DR Congo in its opener.
Just a few days ago, questions were being asked about whether Ronaldo should remain in the starting lineup. He had failed to record a shot on target against DR Congo, while stars such as Messi, Mbappé, and Haaland were dominating headlines. Tuesday was his answer.
Now Portugal sits in a strong position heading into its crucial Group K showdown with Colombia. If Ronaldo can maintain this form, Portugal suddenly becomes one of the more dangerous teams in the tournament.
At 41 years old, the records keep coming. But for Portugal supporters, the biggest takeaway wasn’t another historic milestone.
It was the reminder that Cristiano Ronaldo still has plenty left to give on the world’s biggest stage.
