HOUSTON, June 24 — Cristiano Ronaldo silenced his critics in spectacular fashion early this morning, becoming the first player to score in six World Cups while netting twice in Portugal’s emphatic 5-0 Group K rout of Uzbekistan in Houston.
The 41-year-old ended a 10-match goal drought in major international tournaments and moved past Eusebio as Portugal’s all-time leading scorer at the World Cup with 10 goals.
After the match, Ronaldo appeared to shout “I’m back, I’m back” into the television cameras, an emotional response after facing questions over his place in the team following Portugal’s disappointing 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo in their opening match.
Ronaldo’s double also ended a difficult week in which he had watched fellow superstars Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe make headlines with their goals at the tournament.
Despite the individual milestones, Ronaldo said Portugal’s improved performance was more important.
“The team performed really well and improved a lot,” he said. “As the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining. Obviously, speaking personally, records are always nice but my goal is always to help the national team achieve its objectives.”
Portugal, who have four points from two matches, will face Colombia in their final Group K game, while Uzbekistan, on the brink of elimination without a point, meet DR Congo.
Early intensity
Portugal raised the intensity from the opening whistle as they sought to make amends for their underwhelming start to the tournament.
The Portuguese created 17 attempts on goal, with eight on target, as they repeatedly threatened an outclassed Uzbekistan side and searched for a hat-trick for Ronaldo.
Coach Roberto Martinez said the performance reflected a more mature and clinical side.
“This was the response we had in the dressing room,” Martinez said. “There are times when you need a game like the first one in order to grow in the tournament.
“Today we saw a team with the same attitude and commitment, but with greater maturity because it was no longer the opening match.”
Martinez also praised Ronaldo’s influence on and off the pitch.
“I believe both players have improved football over the years and their rivalry is important for themselves to grow,” he said, referring to Ronaldo and Messi.
“(Ronaldo) is an icon and a role model in the national team. He has a great attitude on the pitch and in the dressing room.
“Not just the scoring, the passes, the chances created, he is a role model when it comes to the World Cup.”
Ronaldo opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a neat finish from six yards after converting Joao Cancelo’s low cross at the near post. He later doubled his tally by placing Bruno Fernandes’ perfectly weighted pass into the far corner.
A visibly relieved Ronaldo raced to the touchline after his first goal, where he was mobbed by teammates while Martinez watched with a smile.
Nuno Mendes scored a superb free kick between Ronaldo’s two goals, deceiving Uzbekistan goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov and much of the crowd by taking the set piece while Ronaldo acted as a decoy.
Uzbekistan thought they had reduced the deficit after the first hydration break, but Azizjon Ganiev’s effort was ruled out following a VAR review for a foul on Cancelo.
In the second half, Nematov inadvertently fumbled the ball into his own net before Rafael Leao added a late fifth in front of a crowd of 68,777 as Portugal eased off with the result already beyond doubt.
Martinez said he had never seen Ronaldo lose confidence despite the scrutiny surrounding him.
“He is a human being and is allowed to have feelings,” he said. “I have never worked with a player that says, whatever happens today, tomorrow he is hungry to work again.
“And that is a quality I would like to pass on to every young player.”
Uzbekistan coach Fabio Cannavaro, who captained Italy to World Cup glory at Ronaldo’s first tournament in 2006, was equally impressed by the forward’s longevity.
“When you play against Ronaldo, you cannot leave anything for him. If you give him even one centimetre, he will score,” Cannavaro said.
“The Portugal players play for him, they give the ball to him. As a defender you need to be very smart to be close to him.
“He is a very good professional, and I told him after the game, ‘you can play for more years and enjoy your football’.”
