Ronaldo prioritizes team victory over personal records after Portugal's five-goal rout

Cristiano Ronaldo once again captured global attention by scoring two goals in Portugal's resounding 5-0 win against Uzbekistan in their second 2026 World Cup qualifying match. The victory marked Portugal's first in the tournament, following an earlier draw.

The 41-year-old forward achieved several historic milestones during the match. He became the first player ever to score in six different World Cup editions, further solidifying his status as Portugal's all-time leading World Cup scorer. Additionally, he became the oldest player to score two goals in a single World Cup game.

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I am very happy. But for me, the most important thing is our hard work and the confidence we showed.

Despite these individual accolades, Ronaldo stressed that team success remains his primary focus. "I am very happy. But for me, the most important thing is our hard work and the confidence we showed," Ronaldo stated, as quoted by FIFA's official website. He believes the win over Uzbekistan demonstrates Portugal's improvement after a less-than-satisfactory performance in their opening match.

"The team played very well and showed a lot of improvement. Of course, personally, records are always nice, but my goal is always to help the national team achieve the set targets," said the former star of Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus. Ronaldo's two goals also served as a response to criticism following his scoreless performance in the first game, with his brace securing a comfortable lead for Portugal before halftime.

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The team played very well and showed a lot of improvement. Of course, personally, records are always nice, but my goal is always to help the national team achieve the set targets.