Ronaldo breaks World Cup scoring record as Portugal top Group K
The 41-year-old forward becomes the first player to score at six World Cups, responding to recent criticism with a brace and an assist in a dominant victory.
Cristiano Ronaldo has cemented his place in World Cup history, becoming the first player to score in six consecutive tournaments, as Portugal secured a commanding 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan. The result lifts Portugal to the summit of Group K, providing a significant boost to their campaign following a mixed start to the competition.
The match served as a direct response to intense scrutiny following Portugal’s 1-1 draw with DR Congo, where Ronaldo faced widespread criticism regarding his form and his continued presence in the national squad. The 41-year-old forward, who has been playing for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr for the past two and a half years, described the preceding period as a "dark week" and admitted he had felt "already retired" from the sport during that time.
Ronaldo opened his account in the second half, rolling in a goal to extend Portugal’s lead before adding a second shortly before the break. He also provided an assist in the 5-0 win over the tournament debutants, contributing to a performance that contrasted sharply with his earlier struggles in the tournament. The fourth goal came from an own goal by Uzbekistan goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov, while substitute Rafael Leao scored the fifth in the 87th minute.
By scoring his brace, Ronaldo brought his senior career goal tally to 975, inching closer to his stated ambition of reaching 1,000 goals before retirement. While five-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi has taken the lead in the World Cup golden boot race, Ronaldo’s historic achievement underscores his enduring impact on the global stage. He stated he was "not going to [retire]" and insisted the team was "back" after the difficult period.
Portugal now sits on four points at the top of Group K. Ronaldo assessed that the team was "already through" to the next stage with their current standing, though final qualification depends on other results. The group winner will likely be decided in Portugal’s next match against Colombia on Sunday, 28 June.
