By Boluwatife Oshadiya | June 24, 2026
Key Points
- Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score in six different FIFA World Cup tournaments
- Portugal defeated Uzbekistan 5-0 to strengthen their position in Group play
- Uzbekistan now face a serious risk of elimination after conceding at least three goals in every group-stage match
Main Story
Portugal delivered one of the most dominant performances of the FIFA World Cup so far, defeating Uzbekistan 5-0 in Houston as Cristiano Ronaldo etched his name deeper into football history.
The 41-year-old forward scored twice to become the first player ever to find the net in six different FIFA World Cup tournaments, surpassing another milestone after already establishing himself as the competition’s oldest goalscorer. The victory gives Roberto Martínez’s side significant momentum heading into the knockout stages while leaving Uzbekistan on the brink of an early exit.
Portugal started aggressively, with Bruno Fernandes testing goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov before Ronaldo opened the scoring from a Nuno Mendes delivery. Mendes doubled the lead with a cleverly executed free-kick that caught the Uzbek defence off guard.
Uzbekistan briefly thought they had pulled a goal back through Aziz Ganiev, but a VAR review ruled the effort out for a foul in the build-up. Ronaldo then added his second goal before halftime after being picked out by Fernandes.
The second half brought more misery for Uzbekistan. An unfortunate own goal involving Abdukodir Khusanov and Nematov extended Portugal’s advantage before Rafael Leão completed the rout with a powerful strike from outside the area.
“Records are important, but the most important thing is helping the team move forward in the tournament,” Ronaldo said in a post-match interview.
The result means Portugal have now won 11 of their last 15 matches across all competitions and appear to be gathering momentum at the right stage of the tournament.
What’s Being Said
“Cristiano continues to show why he remains one of football’s greatest competitors. His hunger and professionalism are extraordinary,” said Roberto Martínez, Portugal head coach.
“We made too many mistakes against a top-quality side. At this level, those errors are punished immediately,” said Fabio Cannavaro, Uzbekistan head coach.
What’s Next
- Portugal will look to secure top spot in their group in their next World Cup fixture
- Uzbekistan must rely on results elsewhere and improve their goal difference to remain in contention
- The outcome of the DR Congo versus Colombia match could significantly affect Uzbekistan’s qualification hopes
The Bottom Line: Portugal’s victory was about more than Ronaldo’s record. It underlined their status as serious World Cup contenders while exposing the defensive weaknesses that could end Uzbekistan’s historic debut campaign sooner than expected.
