Portugal Crush Uzbekistan 5-0 as Ronaldo Makes World Cup History
Portugal Crush Uzbekistan 5-0 as Ronaldo Makes World Cup History
Cristiano Ronaldo Becomes First Player to Score in Six Different World Cups
Portugal delivered a commanding performance to defeat Uzbekistan 5-0 in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group K clash, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring twice and creating yet another piece of football history.
The 41-year-old captain bounced back from a disappointing outing against DR Congo by becoming the first player ever to score in six different FIFA World Cup tournaments.
Portugal wasted little time asserting their dominance. Ronaldo opened the scoring in the sixth minute, finishing João Cancelo’s cross from close range to put his side ahead and etch his name deeper into football history.
Roberto Martinez’s side continued to control possession and territory, doubling their advantage in the 17th minute when Nuno Mendes curled a superb free-kick into the net.
Uzbekistan briefly thought they had pulled a goal back midway through the first half, but a VAR review ruled the effort out, preserving Portugal’s two-goal lead.
Portugal struck again before the break through Ronaldo, who raced onto a perfectly weighted Bruno Fernandes pass and calmly slotted home his second goal of the night to make it 3-0.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Portugal dominating proceedings. An unfortunate own goal by Uzbekistan goalkeeper Abduvokhid Nematov extended the lead to four after he diverted the ball into his own net while attempting a save.
Substitute Rafael Leão completed the rout late in the match with a stunning strike into the top corner, sealing an emphatic 5-0 victory.
The result puts Portugal firmly back on track in Group K after their opening draw against DR Congo and significantly boosts their chances of progressing to the knockout stages. Uzbekistan, meanwhile, suffered a second consecutive defeat and are eliminated from the tournament.
Result: Portugal 5-0 Uzbekistan
Goals:
⚽ Cristiano Ronaldo 6'
⚽ Nuno Mendes 17'
⚽ Cristiano Ronaldo 39'
⚽ Own Goal (Abduvokhid Nematov) 59'
⚽ Rafael Leão 87'
Portugal now move into a strong position in Group K, while Ronaldo's historic brace ensures another remarkable milestone in one of football's greatest careers.
