In the 2026 FIFA World Cup match between Portugal and Uzbekistan, football legend Cristiano Ronaldo netted two goals to give his national team a resounding 5-0 victory over the Asian side. The Portuguese legend scored his first goal in his World Cup campaign in the 6th minute of the match. He hit a half-volley past Uzbekistan’s goalkeeper from Joao Cancelo’s cross.
Ronaldo became the first player to score in six World Cups consecutively.
Portugal had a free kick 20 yards out from Uzbekistan’s goal; Ronaldo stepped up to take it, but was only acting as a dummy for Nuno Mendes to score a beautiful goal from the free kick spot to make it 2-0.
Uzbekistan tried to reduce the goal margin to one, with a stunning distant strike from Azizjon Ganiev, but the goal was ruled out by VAR for a foul on Cancelo leading to the goal.
CR7 added another goal to his first by running onto a Bruno Fernandes through pass to score a deft touch past Abduvohid Nematov, the Uzbekistan goalie, to make it 3-0. Ronaldo was on his way to his second hat-trick in his World Cup history, but had his effort cleared off the line by Manchester City’s Khusanov in the first half stoppage time.
Khusanov’s defensive efforts went in vain in the second half as a Fernandes cross bounced off his leg to hit his arm and then into Uzbekistan’s goal to make it 4-0. Cristiano Ronaldo had several shots on target to give him the much-needed hat trick, but was denied by Nematov.
A low cross to the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was deflected by a defender and fell into the path of Rafael Leão, who hit a fierce shot into the top corner of the net.
Cristiano Ronaldo joins the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland to register two or more goals in a match in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Backstory…
Cristiano Ronaldo has been hit by critics who are constantly comparing him to Lionel Messi for the Greatest of All Time (G.O.A.T.) title. Ronaldo drew blank in Portugal’s first match with DR Congo, while Messi scored a hatrick against Algeria. The Argentine then scored a brace against Austria, taking his tally at the 2026 FIFA World Cup to 5 goals.
