Cristiano Ronaldo scores twice vs Uzbekistan, sets World Cup record of goals in six tournaments

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo answered criticism after his team’s 2‑0 loss to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup by netting two first‑half goals against Uzbekistan. The brace made him the first player in history to score in six different World Cup tournaments, a record highlighted by his own comments that the “haters helped me achieve everything I have.”

Ronaldo’s performance came amid broader discussions of the tournament, with Lionel Messi scoring a hat‑trick for Argentina and other stars such as Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland also finding the net. The Portuguese forward’s goals reinforced his reputation for turning doubt into motivation and underscored his continued impact on the world stage.