Ronaldo makes World Cup history as Portugal thrash Uzbekistan 5-0
Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in Houston to become the first man to find the net at six different World Cups, and his brace powered Portugal to a statement win over Uzbekistan that revived their campaign.
Jun 23, 2026
Portugal needed a response after a flat start to their World Cup, and Houston gave them the stage for an emphatic one. Their 5-0 dismantling of Uzbekistan lifted them to the top of Group K and washed away the frustration of a 1-1 draw with DR Congo, with Cristiano Ronaldo once again the headline act.
Ronaldo rewrites the record book
Ronaldo opened the scoring inside the first ten minutes, reacting quickest from close range to bundle the ball home. The goal mattered far beyond the scoreline. At 41, he became the first player to score at six different World Cups, having now found the net at every tournament from Germany 2006 onwards. He also moved past Lionel Messi as the oldest man ever to register a World Cup brace.
Nuno Mendes doubled the lead on 17 minutes, finishing off a sharply worked free-kick routine that caught the Uzbekistan defence standing still. Ronaldo then added his second before the interval, and by half-time the contest was effectively over at 3-0.
A second-half procession
Whatever faint hopes Uzbekistan carried into the break vanished early in the second half. An Abduvohid Nematov own goal made it four, the goalkeeper turning the ball into his own net under pressure. Rafael Leao, introduced from the bench, thumped in the fifth to complete the rout. Ronaldo was named player of the match, his night’s work long since finished.
For Uzbekistan, appearing at a World Cup for the first time, it was a chastening evening. Beaten by Colombia in their opener, the debutants now have little margin left in the race for the knockout rounds.
What it means for Portugal
The win leaves Portugal well placed in Group K and sets up their final group match, against Colombia on June 27, as a shootout for first place. After a slow start against DR Congo, this was the performance their campaign needed, ruthless in front of goal and comfortable long before the end.
For Indian fans, the match finished overnight, wrapping up in the early hours of the morning. Those who stayed up were rewarded with the sight of Ronaldo rolling back the years once more, still chasing history at his sixth and surely final World Cup.