Ronaldo Makes World Cup History with Brace Against Uzbekistan

Veteran striker Cristiano Ronaldo etched his name further into football history by scoring a brace in Portugal's commanding 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan in their second group stage match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The win marked Portugal's first in the tournament after an opening draw.

Ronaldo, who faced criticism after a scoreless performance in the previous match against the Democratic Republic of Congo, silenced doubters with his two goals. He opened the scoring in the sixth minute and added his second in the 39th minute. This performance not only secured a crucial win for Portugal but also set new individual records.

At 41 years and 138 days old, Ronaldo is now the oldest player to score multiple goals in a single World Cup match. He also extended his own record by scoring in his sixth consecutive World Cup tournament, a feat that began with his debut in the 2006 German World Cup. Furthermore, his goals propelled him past Portuguese legend Eusebio to become his country's all-time leading scorer in World Cup history with a total of 10 goals.

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It's really pleasing. But what's most important to me is our team's effort and confidence. The team played very well and has improved a lot.

While acknowledging the personal milestones, Ronaldo emphasized the team's collective effort. "It's really pleasing. But what's most important to me is our team's effort and confidence. The team played very well and has improved a lot," he stated after the match. He added, "As the proverb says, there is good in all misfortune. Of course, breaking records is always a good feeling, but my goal is always to help the national team achieve its objectives."

Portugal is set to play its final group stage match against Colombia on June 28.

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As the proverb says, there is good in all misfortune. Of course, breaking records is always a good feeling, but my goal is always to help the national team achieve its objectives.