Cristiano Ronaldo he scored twice to rewrite Portuguese World Cup history as Portugal produced their most comprehensive performance of the tournament with a 5-0 win over Uzbekistan in Houston. The result moved Roberto MartÃnez’s side to within four points in Group K, leaving them firmly on course for the knockout stages and eliminating Uzbekistan after a second straight defeat.Portugal came under pressure after a disappointing 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their opening match, a performance that drew criticism from both the team and Cristiano Ronaldo. With Colombia having already beaten Uzbekistan 3-1, another slip-up would have left Portugal facing a difficult qualification scenario in the final group game.Instead, they responded with authority.
Ronaldo strikes early as Portugal take control
Portugal needed just six minutes to take the lead through the man who continues to redefine longevity in international football.João Cancelo drove forward from the right flank before whipping home a dangerous low cross into the six-yard box. Ronaldo broke away from his marker with the instinctive movement that has characterized his entire career and produced a delicate flick that guided the ball past goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov and into the net.The finish did more than give Portugal an early lead. It made Ronaldo the first player in football history to score in six consecutive FIFA World Cups, covering tournaments in 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and now 2026, while also marking his 24th World Cup appearance for Portugal.Portugal doubled their lead ten minutes later through a brilliantly executed set-piece routine.Taking a free kick just outside the penalty area, Ronaldo stood over the ball in his trademark position, drawing the attention of the defensive wall and the goalkeeper. As anticipation built around a direct attempt, Ronaldo instead sprinted over the ball untouched. The deception completely blew the defense away and created the opening for Nuno Mendes, who curled a superb left-footed effort around the wall and into the bottom corner.
VAR denies Uzbekistan before Ronaldo makes more history
Uzbekistan briefly thought they had found a way back into the game midway through the first half.Abbosbek Fayzullaev set up João Cancelo before the ball ended up breaking through for Azizjon Ganiev, who curled a finish into the top corner. The celebrations, however, were cut short after a lengthy VAR review.The officials determined that Fayzullaev had fouled Cancelo in the build-up, with the challenge occurring immediately before the scoring move. The goal was disallowed and Portugal’s two-goal lead remained intact.The decision proved even more costly for Uzbekistan ten minutes before the interval.Bruno Fernandes collected possession in midfield and made a perfectly weighted pass through the defensive line. Ronaldo timed his run expertly, beat the offside trap and calmly drove a low finish into the corner to make it 3-0.The goal carried historical significance. Eusébio’s Portuguese World Cup scoring record of nine goals had been eclipsed by the legendary forward’s outburst at the 1966 tournament. Ronaldo’s second goal of the evening moved him to ten World Cup goals, finally surpassing a mark that had stood for six decades.
Portugal keep up the pressure after the break
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Portugal dominating possession and territory while Uzbekistan struggled to create meaningful openings.The fourth goal came on the hour from a corner. João Félix flicked the delivery to the near post and the ball hit defender Abdukodir Khusanov before going past Nematov and into the net for an own goal.Portugal’s fifth and final goal came three minutes from time through substitute Rafael Leão.Nélson Semedo broke forward on the right and made a precise cut into the penalty area. Leão came unmarked and swept a composed first-time finish past the keeper to complete the scoring.
Portugal close in on qualification as Group K takes shape
Portugal’s dominance was reflected in the statistics. They controlled 66 percent of possession, produced 16 shots on Uzbekistan’s seven, registered nine efforts on target and completed passes with an impressive 92 percent accuracy rate.The win takes Portugal to four points from two games with a healthy goal difference of plus-five. Uzbekistan remains without a point and is mathematically eliminated from the tournament.The Group K picture will become clearer when Colombia face DR Congo later in the day, but Portugal have put themselves in a strong position ahead of their final group game.The decisive test now comes against Colombia, a match that could determine the top spot in the group. A win will almost certainly send Portugal into the knockout rounds as group winners, while even a draw should be enough to secure progression.For Ronaldo, meanwhile, it was another night that added fresh chapters to a career that was already full of records. Twenty years after his first appearance in the World Cup, he left Houston becoming the first player to score in six World Cups and the first World Cup goalscorer in Portuguese history.
