Cristiano Ronaldo needed barely five minutes to answer his critics. On Tuesday, in Portugal's second Group K match of the 2026 World Cup in Houston, the 41-year-old captain finished a João Cancelo cross to put his side ahead of Uzbekistan, then wheeled away into his familiar "Siuuu" celebration. It proved the only goal of the game, sealing a 1-0 win, CBS Sports reported.
A milestone for the record books
The strike carried weight well beyond three points. By scoring, Ronaldo became the first man to find the net at six different World Cup tournaments, Yahoo Sports reported. Lionel Messi has also appeared at six finals, but Argentina's captain did not score in 2010, leaving the record to Ronaldo — who, at 41, was already among the oldest outfield players to start a World Cup match.
The goal extended an international scoring tally that already stands alone at the top of the men's game; Ronaldo holds the record for most international goals. It came two days after Messi rewrote the World Cup's all-time scoring record, giving the tournament a vivid bookend to a rivalry that has defined a generation.
Redemption after a rocky opener
The goal also offered a measure of redemption. In Portugal's opener, a 1-1 draw with DR Congo, Ronaldo drew sharp criticism after a quiet display, recording one of his lowest touch counts in a full match for Portugal at a major tournament. Winger Francisco Conceição, speaking before the Uzbekistan game, had played down any obligation to feed the captain. "We don't feel the need to pass him the ball," he told reporters, per Al Jazeera, adding that he passes "to whoever I think is in the best position."
Portugal steady the ship
The win reshaped a tight group. DR Congo had stunned Portugal in the opener, while Colombia opened with a 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan to take an early lead in Group K. The three points lift Portugal into a far stronger position heading into their final group fixture against Colombia. Under the expanded 48-team format, the top two from each group, plus the eight best third-placed sides, advance to a new round of 32 — giving Portugal a comfortable platform to reach the knockout stage.
For coach Roberto Martínez, the result quiets, at least temporarily, questions about his reliance on an aging talisman. Ronaldo's early goal let Portugal manage the game rather than chase it. Whether one goal silences the wider debate about his role is another matter — but on a humid night in Houston, the oldest man on the pitch again reminded a watching world why Portugal still build so much around him.
