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Ronaldo scores twice as Portugal crushes Uzbekistan 5-0 for first World Cup win

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice, becoming the first player to score in six World Cup tournaments, as Portugal defeated Uzbekistan 5-0.
  • Ronaldo's goals surpassed Portuguese legend Eusebio's World Cup tally, bringing his total to 10.
  • Portugal leads Group K with this victory, setting up a crucial match against Colombia.

Cristiano Ronaldo made history on Tuesday, scoring twice in Portugal's dominant 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan in the World Cup K Group stage. The brace not only secured Portugal's first win and temporarily placed them atop the group but also made Ronaldo the first player ever to score in six different World Cup tournaments.

His opening goal came in the sixth minute, surpassing Lionel Messi and etching his name in the record books. Ronaldo then added a second goal in the 39th minute, bringing his World Cup total to 10, which is more than Portuguese football legend Eusebio da Silva Ferreira. By halftime, Portugal held a comfortable 3-0 lead.

This was not the start we wanted, but there is still a long way to go until the end of the tournament. Cheer up and focus on the next match.

— Cristiano RonaldoRonaldo's social media post after Portugal's draw in their opening match.

The second half saw an own goal from Uzbekistan's goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov in the 60th minute, extending Portugal's advantage to 4-0. Substitute Rafael Leao sealed the emphatic win with the fifth goal in the 87th minute.

Better retire

— FanA critical comment from a fan on social media directed at Ronaldo.

Statistically, Portugal controlled the game with 66% possession, registering 17 shots with 9 on target, while Uzbekistan managed 7 shots with only 2 on target. Portugal is scheduled to face Colombia on June 27th. Colombia will advance to the round of 32 with a win against the Democratic Republic of Congo in their upcoming match.

This resounding victory served as a powerful response to recent criticisms directed at the 41-year-old Ronaldo. Following a 1-1 draw in Portugal's opening match against the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ronaldo expressed his dissatisfaction on social media platform X, stating, "This was not the start we wanted, but there is still a long way to go until the end of the tournament. Cheer up and focus on the next match." Some fans responded harshly, with comments like "Better retire" and "Leave the field before football abandons you." The 2026 World Cup is widely considered the "last dance" for Ronaldo and Messi, whose careers are often compared.

Leave the field before football abandons you.

— FanAnother critical comment from a fan on social media directed at Ronaldo.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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