Cristiano Ronaldo delivered a commanding response to his critics by scoring twice as Portugal cruised to a 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan in their Group K clash at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday.
The emphatic win moved Portugal closer to qualification for the knockout stage and strengthened their position in the group.
Ronaldo opened the scoring in the sixth minute, finishing from close range after a cross from João Cancelo. The veteran forward then added his second goal before halftime as Portugal took complete control of the contest. Nuno Mendes also found the net, while an own goal and a late strike from Rafael Leão completed the rout.
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The 41-year-old’s first goal carried extra significance, making him the first player in football history to score in six different FIFA World Cup tournaments.
The strike was also his 144th international goal and saw him equal Portugal legend Eusébio’s World Cup scoring tally before later surpassing it with his second goal of the match.
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Portugal dominated possession and created chances throughout the encounter, leaving Uzbekistan with little opportunity to threaten. The Central Asian side, playing in their first-ever World Cup, struggled to contain Portugal’s attacking quality and suffered their second defeat of the tournament.
The victory was an important response from Roberto Martínez’s men after their disappointing 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their opening group match. Portugal now head into their final Group K fixture against Colombia with renewed confidence and momentum.
