Ronaldo scores twice to become first player to score in six World Cups

Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player in history to score at six World Cup tournaments after netting twice in Portugal’s 5-0 demolition of Uzbekistan in Houston on Tuesday, staring down the camera lens at full-time to declare: “I’m back, I’m back.”

The 41-year-old had drawn sharp criticism for an anonymous display against DR Congo, but answered his doubters emphatically with two well-taken finishes that moved him into contention in the golden boot race alongside Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane.

João Cancelo created the opener with a driving run down the right flank, squaring a low cross into the penalty area for Ronaldo to hook a first-time shot inside the near post from six yards. The second arrived courtesy of Bruno Fernandes, with Ronaldo timing his run into the right side of the box before guiding a bobbling finish into the far bottom corner.

Ronaldo first appeared at a World Cup in 2006, aged 21, scoring once as Portugal reached the semi-finals. He added one goal apiece in 2010 and 2014, four in 2018, and one in 2022 as Portugal reached the quarter-finals — bringing his overall tally to 10 World Cup goals.

The milestone arrives a day after rival Messi became the first player to appear at six World Cups, scoring his first-ever World Cup hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Algeria in Kansas City to equal Miroslav Klose’s all-time scoring record. Ronaldo’s tally remains well short of Messi’s, but he could surpass Germany’s Lothar Matthäus for the second-most World Cup appearances of all time if Portugal advance through the knockout stages of the expanded 48-team tournament.

Former Sweden captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic, reacting to Ronaldo’s post-match message, was characteristically dry: “His message… I thought he never left.” Thierry Henry was equally measured: “We talked about how he was going to score today. An easy game, run behind… a normal day at the office.”

Ex-United States international Alexi Lalas offered a note of caution alongside the praise. “He hears everything, sometimes it’s good in terms of motivation, but he’s a performer, and he came out and performed,” Lalas said. “Perspective is in order: it’s a moment for celebration but perspective… who they beat up on. Martinez needs to find a proper balance, it gets much, much more difficult.”

Ronaldo has yet to score in the knockout stages of a World Cup or appear in a final, but Tuesday’s brace ensures the conversation around his tournament legacy will continue — at least for now.