Cristiano Ronaldo equaled Lionel Messi in a rare FIFA World Cup warm-up record against Uzbekistan

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi NEW DELHI: Cristiano Ronaldo turned back the clock with a stunning performance as Portugal thrashed Uzbekistan 5-0 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 41-year-old captain scored twice to help his side record their first win of the tournament after a crushing draw against DR Congo.With his brace, Ronaldo made history by becoming the first player ever to score in six different FIFA World Cups, from 2006 to 2026. He also became Portugal’s all-time leading scorer at the World Cup with 10 goals, surpassing Eusebio’s record of nine. The achievement also placed him alongside Lionel Messi and Michael Laudrup as the youngest and oldest World Cup goalscorers for their country.In another record, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo achieved remarkable statistical symmetry, with both stars recording an identical 20-year and 6-day gap between their first and last tournament goals.Portugal entered the match under pressure after being held 1-1 by DR Congo in their opening match. However, they were much sharper and more confident against Uzbekistan. Along with Ronaldo’s two goals, Nuno Mendes and Rafael Leao found the net, while an own goal by Uzbekistan goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov completed the feat.The emphatic victory not only revived Portugal’s World Cup campaign but also increased their goal difference ahead of the final group stage game. It was a particularly important response for Ronaldo, who struggled to make his mark in the opening game.

Ronaldo and Martinez react

Despite reaching another historic milestone, Ronaldo insisted that team success remains his priority.“The team performed really well and improved a lot. As they say, every cloud has a silver lining. Of course, personally, records are always nice, but my goal is always to help the national team achieve its goals,” he said.Portugal coach Roberto Martinez praised his team’s response after a disappointing start.“That was the response we had in the locker room. There are times when you need a game like the first one to grow in the tournament. Today we saw a team with the same attitude and commitment, but with more maturity because it was no longer the opening game,” Martinez said.For Ronaldo, it was another reminder that even at the age of 41, he remains capable of making history in football.