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Portugal’s match against Uzbekistan in Houston was not just a heavy group-stage win.
It was another night in which Cristiano Ronaldo pushed his World Cup legacy into new territory.
Ronaldo scored twice as Portugal beat Uzbekistan 5-0, becoming the first player in tournament history to find the net in six different World Cups.
His first goal ended a short drought after Portugal’s 1-1 draw with DR Congo in their opener. His second, scored before halftime, effectively turned the match into a full Portuguese showcase.
Details
• Ronaldo has now scored in the 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026 World Cups.
• The Portugal captain raised his World Cup tally to nine goals across six tournaments.
• The win gave Roberto Martinez’s team a needed response after a flat opening draw against DR Congo.
• Ronaldo was not the only scorer. Nuno Mendes and Rafael Leao also found the net, while Abdukodir Khusanov scored an own goal.
• The result gives Portugal fresh momentum before its June 27 match against Colombia in Miami.
• Ronaldo, 41, entered the tournament already holding major records for men’s international appearances and goals.
• The new milestone is not only about scoring. It is about longevity: six tournaments, six editions with at least one goal, and nearly two decades at the highest level.
What to watch
The question now is no longer whether Ronaldo can still score. He answered that clearly in Houston.
The real question is whether Portugal can turn its captain’s historic moment into a deeper World Cup run.
The win over Uzbekistan restored confidence, but it did not settle everything. The Colombia match will be a bigger test — for Portugal as a team, and for Ronaldo as a player still refusing to let this World Cup become only a final chapter.
