HOUSTON — Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player in football history to score in six different FIFA World Cup tournaments after netting twice in Portugal’s 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan on Tuesday.
The 41-year-old forward opened the scoring in the sixth minute when he converted João Cancelo’s cross, becoming the only player to find the net in six separate World Cup editions.
Ronaldo added his second goal in the 39th minute after receiving a pass from Bruno Fernandes and calmly finishing inside the near post to give Portugal a 3-0 lead. He was later named player of the match.
The Portuguese captain had entered the game under pressure following his scoreless performance in Portugal’s 1-1 draw against Congo in the opening match, but responded with a record-breaking display.
Ronaldo and Argentina captain Lionel Messi became the first male players to appear in six World Cups earlier in the tournament. However, Ronaldo now stands alone after scoring in every edition he has played.
His World Cup scoring journey began in Germany in 2006 and continued in 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and now 2026.
The two goals increased Ronaldo’s World Cup tally to 10, moving him past Portuguese great Eusébio to become his country’s all-time leading scorer in the tournament.
Only Lionel Messi has scored more World Cup goals among active players, with the Argentine captain extending the all-time record to 18 goals earlier this week.
At 41, Ronaldo also became the second-oldest player to score in a World Cup, behind Cameroon’s Roger Milla, who scored at the 1994 tournament at the age of 42.
The goals also extended Ronaldo’s all-time international scoring record to 145 goals in 230 appearances for Portugal, both world records in men’s international football.
Widely expected to be his final World Cup appearance, Ronaldo’s latest achievement adds another milestone to a career that has included five UEFA Champions League titles and Portugal’s triumph at Euro 2016.
Portugal’s victory strengthened its position in Group K and revived hopes of a deep run in the knockout stage, with Ronaldo once again at the center of the spotlight.
Source: Saudi Gazette