Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first player to score in six FIFA World Cup tournaments following a brace in Portugal’s 5-0 win over Uzbekistan.
He netted twice in the first half to continue his World Cup scoring streak that started on his debut in 2006 and he also found the net in 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022 editions of the competition.
Nuno Mendes, Rafael Leao and an own goal also added to Ronaldo’s strikes to seal an emphatic victory against Uzbekistan and shrug off reports of internal crisis within the Portuguese team.
Ronaldo scored the opener in the sixth minute with a smart finish into the near post from Joao Cancelo’s cross to raucous applause from fans. The 41-year-old was a decoy as Mendes slammed a low free-kick into the bottom corner from 20 yards out, before Ronaldo made even more history six minutes before halftime.
Bruno Fernandes played in the forward who stroked a low finish into the bottom far corner for three-nil. It was his 10th goal in World Cup history and he becomes Portugal’s record goalscorer in the competition, surpassing Eusebio’s record set 60 years ago. The legendary Portugal striker netted nine goals at the 1966 World Cup, and Ronaldo can extend his record with further goals in the tournament.
The Al Nassr captain failed to and more to his tally as he was denied by the Uzbekistan goalkeeper, and failed to poke home a cross in added time.
Portugal are top of Group K with four points and face Colombia in their final group match.
…Joins top 10 all-time W’Cup goal scorers, Messi, Mbappe lead
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo climbed into the top 10 of the all-time FIFA World Cup goalscorers after scoring twice in his side’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan on Tuesday evening.
The 41-year-old struck in the sixth and 39th minute to take his World Cup tally to 10 goals, becoming the first player in history to score in six different World Cup tournaments.
The brace also saw him surpass Portuguese legend Eusébio’s nine-goal World Cup record.
Meanwhile, Lionel Messi remains the tournament’s all-time leading scorer with 18 goals, having overtaken Germany’s Miroslav Klose earlier in the competition.
France star Kylian Mbappé is second among active players with 16 goals, level with Klose’s previous record.
A list of the World Cup’s all-time leading scorers after Cristiano Ronaldo scored a double on Tuesday.
Updated list:
18 – Lionel Messi (ARG)
16 – Miroslav Klose (GER), Kylian Mbappe (FRA)
15 – Ronaldo (BRA)
14 – Gerd Mueller (GER)
13 – Just Fontaine (FRA)
12 – Pele (BRA)
11 – Jurgen Klinsmann (GER), Sandor Kocsis (HUN)
10 – Gabriel Batistuta (ARG), Harry Kane (ENG), Helmut Rahn (GER), Gary Lineker (ENG), Teofilo Cubillas (PER), Thomas Mueller (GER), Grzegorz Lato (POL), Cristiano Ronaldo (POR).
Ronaldo’s latest feat adds another chapter to his illustrious career.
The Portugal captain now holds the unique distinction of scoring at six consecutive FIFA World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026) while also extending his men’s international record to 145 goals.
