Cristiano Ronaldo made history on Tuesday to become the first player to score in six World Cups as his double helped Portugal thrash Uzbekistan.
The 41-year-old made history when he opened the scoring in the sixth minute, sweeping in a low half-volley at the near post from Joao Cancelo’s cross from the right.
Ronaldo’s strike also meant he became the second oldest man to score at a World Cup, behind Cameroon’s Roger Milla, who was 42 when he found the net against Russia in 1994.
Portugal were criticised following a 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their opening game of the tournament, but they stepped up in style against the World Cup debutants.
They doubled their lead in the 17th minute in Houston with Nuno Mendes scoring directly with a low free-kick from 20 yards out.
Uzbekistan thought they had a wonderful reply as Aziz G’aniev spectacularly shot into the net, but the effort was ruled out because Abbosbek Fayzullaev had fouled Cancelo.
ALSO READ: FULL LIST: Countries that have won the FIFA World Cup
Ronaldo got his second and Portugal’s third in the 39th minute when Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes gained possession in the centre circle and slid a pass through to him, with the Portugal captain slipping a precise finish into the bottom corner.
Goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov scored an own goal when Uzbekistan failed to deal with a corner, with the ball bouncing off him for Portugal’s fourth, before substitute Rafael Leao smashed in a late fifth to seal the rout.
The three points took Portugal top of Group K, although Colombia will move above them if they beat DR Congo later on Wednesday (03:00 BST), while Uzbekistan remain without a point after two games.
On Monday, Argentina’s Lionel Messi became the top scorer in World Cup history with a double against Austria to take his total to 18. However, Messi, who turns 39 on Wednesday, has only scored at five of the six tournaments he has played in, failing to register in 2010.
Ronaldo has now struck 10 times, having scored once at the 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2022 finals and four times in 2018, including a hat-trick in a 3-3 draw with Spain.
Portugal take on Colombia on Sunday, 28 June (00:30 BST) in a game that will probably determine who tops Group K, while Uzbekistan face DR Congo at the same time.
(BBC)
