New Delhi, June 24: Cristiano Ronaldo delivered a statement performance at FIFA World Cup 2026, scoring twice as Portugal bounced back in emphatic fashion with a dominant 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan.
After a disappointing draw in their opening game, Portugal responded with a commanding display led by Ronaldo, who ended his recent goal drought on the biggest stage and once again became the focal point of his team’s campaign.
Portugal made a dream start to the contest, with Ronaldo opening the scoring in the sixth minute after reacting quickest inside the box to convert from close range. The early goal settled the European side and provided the veteran forward with the breakthrough he had been searching for.
Nuno Mendes soon doubled Portugal’s advantage, finding the net from a free-kick as Roberto Martínez’s side tightened its grip on the match. Uzbekistan briefly thought they had pulled one back through a stunning long-range effort, but the goal was ruled out following a VAR review.
Ronaldo struck again before halftime to make it 3-0, finishing off a well-worked move after being played through on goal. His second of the evening further underlined Portugal’s dominance and marked another historic milestone in his remarkable international career.
The goals kept coming in the second half as Portugal added two more to complete the rout. An own goal from Abdukodir Khusanov compounded Uzbekistan’s misery before Rafael Leao capped off the performance with a late strike to make it 5-0.
The victory not only handed Portugal its first win of the tournament but also restored confidence after a frustrating start to the campaign. It also reignited Ronaldo’s World Cup momentum, with the legendary forward once again proving decisive for his national side.
For Uzbekistan, the defeat was a harsh lesson on football’s biggest stage as the World Cup debutants struggled to cope with Portugal’s quality, movement, and clinical finishing.
With the emphatic win, Portugal has now put its campaign firmly back on track and will look to build on the momentum in its upcoming group-stage fixtures
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