Cristiano Ronaldo sets World Cup record with double as Portugal beats Uzbekistan 5-0

Portugal defeated Uzbekistan 5-0 at the FIFA World Cup, with 41‑year‑old Cristiano Ronaldo scoring both goals. The performance made Ronaldo the first player to score in all six World Cup final tournaments he has attended, surpassing Eusebio as Portugal’s all‑time World Cup scorer and becoming the second‑oldest scorer in tournament history after Roger Milla. He also joined an elite group as the first footballer to reach double‑digit tallies at both the World Cup (10) and the European Championship (14).

Former Italian defender Fabio Cannavaro, now Uzbekistan’s coach, praised Ronaldo’s influence, noting that teammates “play for him, feed him the ball and he always makes excellent runs.” Former Portuguese defender Geraldo Alves highlighted Portugal’s efficiency in the third quarter of the match and reiterated Ronaldo’s importance while stressing that no single player is indispensable in a team sport. The match sparked discussion in Romanian media about the veteran’s continued impact and the criticism he faces, underscoring his enduring stature in international football.