Cristiano Ronaldo scored a historic brace as Portugal thrashed Uzbekistan 5-0, moving closer to the World Cup knockout stages.
Cristiano Ronaldo delivered the perfect response to his critics with a record-breaking performance as Portugal cruised to a commanding 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan in their second FIFA World Cup group-stage match.
After facing intense scrutiny following the disappointing draw against DR Congo, the 41-year-old captain reminded the world why he remains one of football’s greatest players.
ESTAMOS AQUI! pic.twitter.com/wpGspFRQn1
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) June 23, 2026
Portugal began the match with far greater intensity than they showed in their opener. Bruno Fernandes nearly opened the scoring inside the first two minutes, forcing Uzbekistan’s defence into an early block.
Moments later, Ronaldo was inches away from connecting with a dangerous Nuno Mendes cross, visibly frustrated as the ball flashed across the face of goal.
The veteran forward did not have to wait long for redemption. When another delivery arrived into the penalty area, Ronaldo timed his movement perfectly, darting across his marker and powering a finish beyond goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov.
Most FIFA World Cups scored in by a player – 6 by Cristiano Ronaldo
Suiiiiii 🐐
— Guinness World Records (@GWR) June 23, 2026
The goal not only gave Portugal the lead but also made Ronaldo the first player in history to score at six different World Cup tournaments.
With confidence flowing through the Portuguese side, Nuno Mendes doubled the advantage in spectacular fashion. Instead of allowing Ronaldo to take a promising free-kick, the Paris Saint-Germain defender caught everyone by surprise, curling a brilliant effort into the net while the Uzbekistan defence stood frozen, expecting the captain to strike.
Uzbekistan thought they had found a way back into the match when Aziz Ganiev unleashed a stunning long-range effort after the hydration break. However, celebrations were cut short as VAR intervened and ruled the goal out for a foul in the build-up, preserving Portugal’s two-goal cushion.
Ronaldo then struck again before halftime to effectively kill off the contest. Latching onto a clever pass from Fernandes, he calmly picked out the corner to score his second of the evening.
The goal saw him surpass Eusebio as Portugal’s all-time leading World Cup scorer, adding another remarkable milestone to his legendary career.
The oldest player EVER to score a brace at the World Cup. Cristiano Ronaldo. 🇵🇹💥 pic.twitter.com/xhU6LTMCTv
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 23, 2026
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Portugal dominating possession and creating chance after chance. Ronaldo came close to completing a hat-trick after another inventive set-piece routine, but Nematov denied him.
The resulting corner eventually led to Portugal’s fourth goal, with an unfortunate own goal involving Abdukodir Khusanov and the Uzbek goalkeeper compounding the visitors’ misery.
Although Ronaldo was denied a fairytale third goal late on, Portugal still finished with a flourish when Rafael Leao fired home a powerful strike from the edge of the area to make it 5-0.
A 5️⃣ star Portugal performance! #FIFAWorldCup
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 23, 2026
The emphatic victory puts Roberto Martinez’s side firmly back on track and sends a clear message to the rest of the tournament.
For Ronaldo, it was the perfect night. A historic brace, a record-breaking achievement, and a performance that silenced every doubt surrounding his place in the team.
