Portugal delivered one of the most dominant performances of the tournament so far, cruising to a 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan.
The match carried extra significance for Cristiano Ronaldo, who entered the game still searching for his first goal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
He did not have to wait long.
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Just six minutes into the contest, Ronaldo found the back of the net to open both the scoring and his account for the tournament. The goal sparked huge celebrations inside the stadium, with fans rising to their feet as the Portuguese captain marked another milestone in his extraordinary career.
Ronaldo would go on to score a second goal later in the match, finishing the evening with a brace. The veteran forward looked determined to complete a hat-trick and came close on several occasions, but a third goal was not to be.
Even without the hat-trick, it was a historic night.
By scoring in the tournament, Ronaldo became the first player in history to score in six different FIFA World Cups, further extending a legacy that has already placed him among football’s all-time greats.
Portugal’s attacking quality overwhelmed Uzbekistan throughout the match as they ran out comfortable 5-0 winners.
For Uzbekistan, the defeat was a painful one. Cameras captured several players visibly emotional after the final whistle, reflecting the disappointment of a difficult night against one of football’s traditional powerhouses.
Portugal, meanwhile, celebrated a statement victory that underlined their ambitions for the tournament.
After the match, Ronaldo looked directly into a television camera and delivered a simple but powerful message.
“I’M BACK.”
Then he repeated it once more.
“I’M BACK.”
For Portugal supporters, those words may be just as encouraging as the result itself.
