Cristiano Ronaldo made history on June 22, 2026, by becoming the first player to score in six World Cups during Portugal’s 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan in Houston. His first goal came in the sixth minute, and his second before halftime. With these goals. Ronaldo now has 10 World Cup goals in his career, placing him tied for 10th on the all-time scoring list, according to UPI.

Record Breaker in the Making

Ronaldo’s first World Cup goal was in the 2006 tournament against Iran — he has scored in the 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022 editions as well. He netted four goals in the 2018 World Cup and one in 2022. This achievement makes him the only player to score in five consecutive World Cups, with a total of eight goals in World Cup history, according to KBS 뉴스.

At 41 years old. Ronaldo is also set to become the second-oldest outfield player in World Cup history, behind only Roger Milla, who played at 42 in 1990. He enters the tournament in strong form, having scored five goals in Portugal’s qualifying campaign and 28 goals for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, according to FotMob.

Performance Under Scrutiny

Ronaldo faced criticism after a lackluster performance in Portugal’s 1-1 draw with DR Congo, during which he was largely isolated in the box and squandered two scoring chances. However, in the match against Uzbekistan, he registered seven total shots, won 100 percent of his aerial duels, and made three defensive contributions, according to OneFootball.

Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez defended Ronaldo’s place in the squad, stating, “He is not only our team’s captain, but also a competitor just like the other players on the national team. For me, he is an exemplary captain.”

Historic Win for Portugal

Portugal outshot Uzbekistan 17-7 and held a 66% to 34% edge in possession during the 5-0 win; Left back Nuno Mendes added a goal in the 17th minute from a free kick, and midfielder Rafael Leao scored in the 87th minute. Ronaldo nearly completed a hat trick in the 74th minute, but Uzbekistan’s goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov made a diving save.

Portugal’s victory came after two 2-1 friendly wins over Nigeria and Chile in the lead-up to the World Cup. Ronaldo expressed confidence ahead of the tournament, stating, “Physically? I’m fine – have you not seen my matches?”

Ronaldo’s historic performance adds to the ongoing rivalry with Lionel Messi, who scored in the recent Qatar World Cup and now leads in the head-to-head competition. The question remains whether Ronaldo can close the gap in this epic football rivalry.