‘I’m back,’ says Ronaldo as Portugal thrash Uzbekistan

Cristiano Ronaldo announced his return to form with two goals in Portugal's dominant 5-0 World Cup victory against Uzbekistan. The star forward made history by scoring in his sixth World Cup tournament, a feat unmatched by any other player. Ronaldo's brace, including a trademark "Siu" celebration, came after a challenging period where critics questioned his abilities.

“

I’m back, I’m back

"I'm back, I'm back," Ronaldo declared after the match, aiming to silence doubters. He told broadcasters, "It’s always nice to break records, but my goal is to help the national team achieve its objectives." He acknowledged the recent difficulties, stating, "It was a difficult week, a dark week. It seemed like I was already retired from football. But I held on, as always, because I believe more in hard work than in anything else."

The resounding win in Houston places Portugal on the brink of advancing to the knockout stages. Ronaldo's opening goal in the sixth minute marked his 10th World Cup goal, surpassing any other Portuguese player. Despite recent struggles and calls for him to be dropped, coach Roberto Martinez maintained faith in his captain, who received a strong reception from the 68,777 fans.

“

It’s always nice to break records, but my goal is to help the national team achieve its objectives.

Uzbekistan, coached by former World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro, proved to be an ideal opponent for Ronaldo to regain his scoring touch. Nuno Mendes added a second goal before Ronaldo secured his brace with a cool finish before halftime. The victory served as a powerful response to those who had written him off.

“

It was a difficult week, a dark week. It seemed like I was already retired from football. But I held on, as always, because I believe more in hard work than in anything else.