Cristiano Ronaldo answered recent criticism with a record-breaking display as Portugal beat Uzbekistan 5-0 at the World Cup. The Portugal captain struck twice, set multiple milestones, and helped move Roberto Martinez’s side towards the knockout stages after their opening draw with DR Congo had raised questions.

Ronaldo looked emotional after the final whistle and turned straight to a television camera near the touchline. The forward shouted, “I’m back, I’m back” as the celebrations began, sending a clear message in response to debates surrounding Portugal’s form and Ronaldo’s place in the team.

The 41-year-old became the first player to score in six different FIFA World Cup tournaments, adding another entry to an already lengthy list of achievements. Ronaldo also moved onto 10 World Cup goals for Portugal, overtaking Eusebio, who had previously held the national record with nine goals.

Ronaldo’s performance brought an end to a difficult personal run in major tournaments. Before facing Uzbekistan, Ronaldo had gone 10 World Cup or EURO games without a goal. During that spell, Ronaldo had taken 33 shots and produced an expected goals figure of 4.5 but still failed to score.

Further history came with Ronaldo’s age-related landmark. At 41 years and 138 days, Ronaldo became the second-oldest scorer in World Cup history. Only Roger Milla, who scored for Cameroon against Russia in 1994 at 42 years and 39 days, has found the net at an older age.

Ronaldo is now the oldest European player to score at a World Cup or EURO tournament. The forward’s goals ensured Portugal’s experienced leader remained central at a competition where Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland had already scored in both of their first two matches.

After the match, Ronaldo reflected on the criticism that followed Portugal’s draw against DR Congo in their opening group fixture. The veteran forward suggested the reaction had been severe but said the team used it as extra motivation to respond strongly against Uzbekistan.

Ronaldo explained those feelings in detail. “I can say it was a very tough week, a difficult week, a week in which public opinion was very harsh on us, on all the players, especially on the coach,” Ronaldo said. “But it’s always like that. It’s fine because when you think about it, it’s already 23 years since I’ve been a professional and whenever things don’t go well it’s, ‘Cristiano, he’s finished, he’s old’. But well, it was a good response from me and my teammates, which is what we wanted.“

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez highlighted Ronaldo’s long-standing rivalry with Lionel Messi, suggesting it remains a key factor in both players’ continued standards. Martinez felt that the competition between the two forwards contributed to their ability to perform strongly at advanced ages in demanding tournaments.

Martinez said, “I believe both players have improved football over the years and their rivalry is important for themselves to grow,” before expanding on Ronaldo’s influence. “[Ronaldo]is an icon and a role model in the national team. He has a great attitude on the pitch and in the dressing room. Not just the scoring, the passes, the chances created, he is a role model when it comes to the World Cup.“

On the pitch, the Portugal captain made an impact almost immediately. Ronaldo struck in the sixth minute at Houston Stadium, meeting Joao Cancelo’s cross at the near post with a sharp finish. Nuno Mendes added a second for Portugal 11 minutes later with a direct free-kick that beat Abduvokhid Nematov.

Portugal tightened their grip on the contest six minutes before half-time. Ronaldo ran through and finished past Nematov to make it 3-0, putting the result beyond doubt early. Uzbekistan’s goalkeeper endured more misfortune on the hour mark, diverting the ball into the net for an own goal.

Rafael Leao added Portugal’s fifth in the 87th minute to complete the scoring. While Leao’s late strike underlined Portugal’s dominance, most focus stayed on Ronaldo’s double and the various records that followed. The win also eased pressure on the squad after the earlier setback against DR Congo.

Cristiano Ronaldo World Cup context and Uzbekistan debut vs Portugal

Uzbekistan’s first World Cup has been challenging so far. The 5-0 loss to Portugal followed defeat in their opening group fixture, leaving Fabio Cannavaro’s side still without a point. However, qualification remained mathematically possible, so Uzbekistan’s focus turned quickly to their final group match.

Uzbekistan became the fifth Asian team to lose both opening matches at a debut World Cup, following Japan in 1998, China in 2002, Qatar in 2022 and Jordan earlier in 2026. The sequence underlined how demanding a first appearance on this stage can be for emerging national teams.

There was a brief moment when Uzbekistan thought momentum might shift. Aziz G’aniev struck a powerful effort that flew into the net, apparently reducing the deficit. However, a VAR check ruled the goal out because of a foul by Abbosbek Fayzullaev in the build-up, ending those hopes.

Cannavaro backed the players publicly, insisting the 5-0 margin reflected coaching errors rather than a lack of effort. “They tried everything, they tried their best. I am very proud,” Cannavaro told reporters. “We have to keep believing until we mathematically cannot go through. All my life I have taken responsibility, as a player and as a coach. If we lost 5-0, it is because today I made mistakes, and not them [the players]. This is our first time at the World Cup. I told the players that they can misplace a pass and make mistakes. Because I must give them the confidence to try and improve.“

The result left Portugal strengthened in their group, with Ronaldo back among the goals and new records set. Uzbekistan, despite another defeat, gained further experience on the global stage. Both teams entered their remaining fixtures knowing exactly what was required to extend their World Cup campaigns.