Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player in history to score in six different FIFA World Cup tournaments, finding the net twice as Portugal beat Uzbekistan on Tuesday.
The 41-year-old forward had gone scoreless in his first match of this World Cup, a 1-1 draw with Congo DR, fueling questions about his role heading into the tournament.
Those questions ended in the fifth minute. João Cancelo delivered a cross from the right, and Ronaldo finished it past the goalkeeper to put Portugal ahead 1-0.
The goal made him the only player to score across six separate World Cups, moving him past Lionel Messi in that category. Nuno Mendes added a free-kick goal in the 17th minute.
Ronaldo cements FIFA World Cup record with second goal
Ronaldo struck again in the 39th minute. Bruno Fernandes, his former Manchester United teammate, threaded a pass behind the Uzbekistan defense, and Ronaldo ran onto it before placing his shot inside the far post.
The goal made the score 3-0 and gave Ronaldo 10 career World Cup goals, surpassing Eusébio as Portugal’s all-time leading scorer at the tournament.
History for @Cristiano! 🇵🇹
Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first player to score in six different @FIFAWorldCup tournaments! ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/qI1Zvt0uJS
— FIFA (@FIFAcom) June 23, 2026
Before the match, Portugal coach Roberto Martinez had defended Ronaldo against suggestions that the team would be better off without him.
Martinez said that it would make no sense to bench the world’s top goal scorer when goals were needed, adding that Ronaldo’s movement inside the box still creates space for his teammates even when he is not directly involved in the build-up.
Martinez and Cancelo defend Portugal’s approach before kickoff
Defender Cancelo had also addressed the team’s slow start earlier in the week. He said that Portugal had not generated enough scoring chances against Congo DR and that the squad, which includes Fernandes and Bernardo Silva, needed to perform at a higher level. He said only a victory would be acceptable against Uzbekistan.
Ronaldo has played in World Cups since 2006 and has scored in every edition except 2022, when he managed just one goal in a quarterfinal exit. He has the most career appearances and goals of any men’s national team player, with 228 appearances and 145 goals for Portugal entering Tuesday’s match.
Messi also made history this tournament, becoming the all-time leading World Cup scorer with 18 goals during Argentina’s win over Austria. Portugal will next face the United States in Texas as it looks to reach the knockout stage.
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