HOUSTON — Cristiano Ronaldo made history on Tuesday by becoming the first player to score in six different World Cups, netting a goal in Portugal‘s impressive 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan.
At 41 years old, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner had been scoreless for 10 matches in major tournaments, a drought that dates back to November 2022 after he failed to score against Congo DR last Wednesday.
During Tuesday’s Group K match, Ronaldo quickly put Portugal ahead with a near-post goal in the sixth minute. Later, he opted not to take a free kick that could have led to a second goal, allowing Nuno Mendes to score before Ronaldo extended the lead to 3-0 just before halftime with a well-timed run onto a through ball.
Ronaldo and the team received significant criticism following a disappointing 1-1 draw against Congo DR, which raised questions about coach Roberto Martínez’s decision to continue placing Ronaldo in the center forward position. This context made the victory on Tuesday all the more meaningful.
“God helps those who work hard. I knew my teammates would support me,” Ronaldo remarked after the match. “It was a tough week, almost like I had retired from soccer. But I persevered, as I always do, because I believe in hard work above all else.
“It was hard, I won’t lie, but we’re back now.”
Although Ronaldo had several chances to complete a hat trick in the second half, he ultimately did not score again, but Portugal secured four points in the group, setting up their final match against Colombia in Miami on Saturday.
With his goal, Ronaldo became the first player in history to score in every World Cup from 2006 to 2026. He is also now the second-oldest goalscorer in World Cup history, at 41 years and 138 days, trailing only Roger Milla, who scored at 42 years and 39 days for Cameroon in 1994.
Portugal’s fourth goal arrived in the 60th minute with a low ball that deflected into the net off Abdukodir Khusanov and Abduvohid Nematov. Ronaldo subsequently tested Nematov with a strong shot as he aimed for his hat trick, before Rafael Leão capped off the scoring with a powerful shot into the roof of the net.
“We’ve grown; that’s how life is. We encounter challenges during games and in life, but the main objective is always to improve,” Ronaldo stated. “And we did just that. It was a very challenging week, with harsh criticism directed at all players, especially at me and our coach.
“But that doesn’t bother me. I’ve been in this profession for 23 years, and whenever things are going well, Cristiano is the star, but when they go poorly, I’m considered too old and nearing retirement. It will always be that way.
“However, we responded positively today, which was our aim. We played with a high line, and when we do that, it becomes difficult to stop Portugal.”
This year, Ronaldo and Argentina captain Lionel Messi have made history as the only male players to participate in six World Cup tournaments. However, Ronaldo uniquely holds the record for scoring in each of these editions, as Messi did not score in the 2010 World Cup held in South Africa.
With a total of 10 World Cup goals, Ronaldo’s tally stands in contrast to Messi’s impressive 18 goals, including a hat trick in Argentina’s opener against Algeria and two additional goals against Austria, making him the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history.
“I always arrive eventually. It’s about perseverance in my work. I wholeheartedly believe that God assists those who put in hard work,” Ronaldo noted. “That has been the case throughout my career, and nothing will change. I’m very happy. The most important thing is the team, staying united with them and our families. We can’t control the outside opinions.
“We are aware that when we don’t win, we face criticism, especially me.”
This tournament is likely to be Ronaldo’s final World Cup, capping a remarkable career that includes winning the European Championships with Portugal in 2016 and five Champions League titles with Manchester United and Real Madrid.
With this match, Ronaldo has made 230 appearances in international play, the highest ever in men’s soccer history. He has netted 145 goals for Portugal over his illustrious career.
Information for this report was drawn from ESPN’s Global Sports Research and The Associated Press.