FIFA World Cup 2026: Ronaldo says 'we are here' after helping Portugal register dominant 5-0 win over Uzbekistan

Cristiano Ronaldo emphatically declared "we are here" after his record-breaking performance inspired Portugal to a dominant 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan in their FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier. The veteran forward netted twice, alongside goals from Nuno Mendes, Rafael Leao, and an own goal, securing a crucial win for Portugal at Houston Stadium.

This commanding performance served as a strong response after Portugal was held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo in their opening group match, a result that had placed Ronaldo's team under scrutiny. The emphatic win not only gets Portugal's World Cup campaign back on track but also significantly boosts their goal difference ahead of their final group fixture. For Ronaldo, it marked a significant turnaround following a less influential outing against DR Congo.

Following the match, Ronaldo shared celebratory photographs on X, captioned simply, "We are here!" This post echoed the team's determination to bounce back after their initial stumble. Reports also captured him saying, "I am back," reflecting his renewed confidence after the stellar performance.

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We are here!

The match saw Portugal control proceedings from the start. Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 6th minute, followed by a stunning free-kick from Nuno Mendes and another goal from Ronaldo before halftime. In the second half, Portugal continued their dominance, extending their lead through an own goal and a late strike from substitute Rafael Leao.

Notably, Ronaldo's brace etched his name further into the record books. He became Portugal's all-time leading World Cup scorer with 10 goals and achieved the historic milestone of being the first player ever to score in six different FIFA World Cup tournaments.

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I am back